OFF-DUTY BORDENTOWN OFFICER KILLED IN MOTORCYCLE CRASH ON ROUTE 31

An off-duty police officer from the Bordentown Police Department was killed Monday evening in a motorcycle crash along Route 31, near the Interstate 295 interchange.

Patrol Officer Robert Sparano, 23, was riding a Kawasaki motorcycle northbound on Pennington Road (State Highway Route 31) around 7:09 p.m. when he attempted to change lanes near the I-295 North off-ramp, according to Hopewell Township Police.

During the maneuver, Sparano struck the rear of a GMC pickup truck driven by a 26-year-old man from Hopewell Township. The impact caused Sparano to be ejected from the motorcycle. He sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

The driver of the pickup truck was not injured.

Sparano had recently joined the Bordentown Police Department and graduated from the Mercer County Police Academy in West Windsor. He was sworn in as an officer in July 2024.

Bordentown Township Mayor Eric Holliday confirmed the tragic loss in a public statement, highlighting Sparano’s dedication to public service and his family’s deep ties to law enforcement.

“His commitment to protecting others was not only a reflection of his own character, but also a continuation of a legacy of service that runs deep in his family,” Holliday said. “This is a deeply painful loss for our township, and words cannot fully express the grief we share. On behalf of the Township Committee and the entire Bordentown community, I extend our deepest condolences to the Sparano family, his friends, and the members of our police department. We stand with you during this incredibly difficult time.”

Officer Sparano followed in the footsteps of his father, retired Hopewell Township Police Sgt. Robert “Bob” Sparano, who served the department for 28 years before retiring in May 2022.

The crash remains under investigation by Officer Paul Alvaro and Detective Michael Makwinski of the Hopewell Township Police Department, in coordination with the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office.