LINDEN — Linden Police have identified the three off-duty officers and one passenger in the fatal wrong-way crash that killed one of the officers and the passenger.

The driver of the vehicle, Officer Pedro Abad Jr., 27, a six-year veteran of the department, is in critical condition at the Richmond University Medical Center, said Linden Police Chief James M. Schulhafer at an afternoon press conference at city hall.

Another officer in the rear of the vehicle, Frank Viggiano, 28, a five-year veteran of the department, died at the hospital, Schulhafer said.

A front-seat passenger, Joseph Rodriguez, 28, of Linden, was pronounced dead at the scene, the chief said.

Another officer in the rear of the vehicle, Patrik Kudlac, 23, a two-year veteran of the department, remains in critical condition at Staten Island University Hospital North.

The NYPD confirmed the four men were at the Curves strip club before the 5 a.m. crash where their Honda Civic struck a tractor-trailer head-on while driving northbound in a southbound lane of the West Shore Expressway near Arthur Kills Road. Police said detectives are reviewing video surveillance and interviewing staff at the club to determine if the men had been drinking.

The general manager at Curves confirmed that the club does serve alcohol, but would not say if the men were drinking.

"We are cooperating with the authorities on the investigation, and they have asked us not to comment," said Curves General Manager Tommy Ford. "Obviously we feel for the families. It's a tragedy. You never want to be on the other end of that phone call."

An Instagram post from around 11 p.m. on Abad's account shows a picture of shots at Central Park, a Roselle bar-restaurant, with the caption "Jack Daniels Fire on the house" and a toast about how he wants to settle down and have a family.

A manager from Central Park was not available for comments.

According to NYPD, one tractor-trailer did swerve out of the way of the oncoming car, but the second was unable to. The operator and sole occupant of the second tractor-trailer, a 34-year-old male, was taken to Staten Island University North Hospital and is in stable condition, police said. Police said he passed a blood-alcohol test and does not appear to be at fault. The investigation into the crash is ongoing.

Surveillance footage from a gas station in Rossville obtained by SILive.com shows a vehicle traveling the wrong direction down a one-way service road minutes before the wreck.

Motorist Dzemail Ramush told SILive.com he was on his way to work when he saw the car heading the wrong way on West Service Road.

"I kind of pulled to the side, I kind of slowed down, I tried to warn them with the lights," he said. "When I heard afterward there was an accident, I kind of in my mind thought it was those guys."

At the press conference, Linden authorities would not answer questions about where the men were or whether they were drinking.

"We will let the investigation air out what happened," said Police Captain James Sarnicki. "We'll learn from what happened today. And if there's any lessons to be learned, we'll take that information, and I'm sure the chief will address any issues at that time."

Chief Schulhafer was visibly upset during the press conference and answered reporters who asked how he discussed the incident with his officers.

"We had an impromptu meeting this afternoon with officers here, and we have grief counselors available," he said. "I told them this is a day that will live with them for the rest of their lives. I think we will all probably have some regret and blame ourselves for something we could have done or said to the officers to prevent this tragedy. I told everyone to go home to their loved ones tonight and tell them that they love them. I told everybody to be appreciative for what they have."

The officers are well-respected within the department, and "all good cops" who would immediately do anything they were asked by their superiors, said Patrol Captain William Turbett. Turbett said he saw Kudlac and Abad yesterday, when they were filling out reports at headquarters, although they were off-duty.

Turbett added that Kudlac was an auxiliary police officer prior to becoming a full-time officer, and that he loves his job and "comes in with smile on his face every day."

Turbett said Viggiano was an avid fisherman and that Viggiano's mother first asked if the men had been out to go fishing.

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Linden Mayor Derek Armstead recounted his experience with Viggiano, saying he got to know him when Viggiano once acted as his driver.

"These are some of our brightest police officers," Armstead said. "They're young and they're bright, and we're at a tremendous loss without them."

Capt. Sarnicki said all four men have Linden roots and grew up in town.

"We are a family and as you can see up here this is our family," Sarnicki said. "So when we lose somebody it affects all of us. This has definitely affected us."

He asked for prayers for Kudlac and Abad, "who are fighting for their lives" and undergoing surgery.

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Jessica Remo may be reached at jremo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessicaRemoNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.