An off-duty New Jersey State Police sergeant died in a motorcycle crash on Route 206 in Burlington County around 4:15 p.m.
Sgt. Juan Fajardo, 41, was involved in a collision with a Ford Transit van near the Mansfield Square shopping center. He was pronounced dead at the scene, while the van driver’s injuries were minor, and they declined further medical treatment, authorities said.
Fajardo, a Columbus resident and father of three, served with the New Jersey State Police for 16 years and had previously been a member of the New Jersey Army National Guard. He was honorably discharged in 2003 and returned to service in 2019, participating in recovery efforts after Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico in 2017.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation, and no charges have been filed at this time.
Authorities reported that a candlelight vigil for Fajardo is scheduled for Saturday at Mansfield Township Community Park in Columbus. The New Jersey State Police extended their condolences to Fajardo’s family, emphasizing the loss to both their agency and the wider law enforcement community.