N.J. State Trooper Frankie Williams

UPDATE: N.J. trooper killed in head-on crash was 'bright and promising,' State Police say

MILLVILLE -- A New Jersey state trooper and another driver were killed in a head-on collision Monday night, authorities said.

Trooper Frankie Williams, 31, was traveling south on Route 55 en route to a service call around 7 p.m. when a man driving a Toyota Corolla crossed the center median near milepost 22.2 and struck the trooper's car, State Police said in a news release early Tuesday.

Williams was flown to Cooper University in Camden, where he was pronounced dead.

The other driver has not been identified. Authorities said the crash remains under investigation.

The red Corolla was upright, while the trooper's car was overturned on the driver's side, according to Millville Rescue Squad Chief John Redden.

Williams, an Atlantic County resident, was a member of the 156th State Police Class, which graduated Jan 29. He was assigned to Port Norris Station.

He received his bachelor's degrees in criminal justice from Rutgers-Camden was taking classes toward a master's degree in that field, according to his LinkedIn page. He was a member of Alpha Sigma Lambda National Honor Society.

He was interested in raising the public's awareness of cyber-crime and cyber-security and learning how to use GIS software to make criminology maps, he said on his LinkedIn page.

He previously worked at Lowe's Home Improvement stores as a customer service associate and later as a loss prevention manager.

More than 50 troopers were at the hospital Monday night and authorities shut down Benson Street to make a makeshift parking lot for them, according to Camden County spokesman Dan Keashen. He said that troopers and police lined up to salute as Williams' body was taken away early this morning.

In August, Williams smashed the window of a Mercedes-Benz to rescue a dog suffering from heat stroke outside a thrift store in Pilesgrove Township in Salem County.

President Colligan - Our hearts and prayers go out to the @NJSP tonight on their loss. Please pray for the family and friends of the trooper — New Jersey State PBA (@NJSPBA) December 6, 2016

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

NJ Advance Media reporters Don E. Woods and Rebecca Everett contributed to this report.