UPDATE: At 29, officer killed in crash was 'unmatched' force in community

BERNARDS -- The driver killed in a three-car crash Tuesday morning on I-78 was a Summit police officer on his way work, authorities said.

Matthew Tarentino, 29 and a father of two children, was driving eastbound when a car veered from the westbound lanes across the grassy median into oncoming traffic and hit two other cars, authorities said.

A second driver died at Morristown Medical Center following the crash that occurred at 6:20 a.m. Tuesday, state police said. The name of the second victim has not been released.

"With great sadness, the City of Summit Police Department announces the death of police Officer Matthew Tarentino at 6:20 a.m.," Summit police said in the statement.

A second driver has died in the crash that occurred at 6:20 a.m. Tuesday, state police said. The name of the victim has not been released.

"His devotion to his job and the community was unmatched," Summit Mayor Nora Radest said. "This is a tremendous loss for the city."

Radest said Tarentino was the department's D.A.R.E. officer and was scheduled to participate in a graduation ceremony for the program Tuesday for Summit's fifth grade students.

"He would have been the centerpiece of the graduation," Radest said. The D.A.R.E. ceremony has been postponed.

Radest said Tarentino and his wife have two children and his wife is expecting a third child.

State Police said the accident occurred milepost 33 at around 6:20 a.m. and involved three cars. The drivers in the two other vehicles were injured and were brought to Morristown Medical Center, State Police said. Their names have not been released.

Troopers were still investigating the crash as of 10 a.m. Tuesday. The crash closed all eastbound lanes just after the crash, and caused extensive delays through the morning rush hour.

Tom Haydon may be reached at thaydon@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @Tom_HaydonSL. Find NJ.com on Facebook.