July 25, 2015
Justice for Officer Chris Hoffman /Facebook
Christopher Hoffman, a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and police officer with the Watchung police department, was killed in a crash on June 7, 2014.
A New Jersey man will serve 8 years in a state prison after driving while under the influence of heroin and causing a June 2014 crash that killed off-duty police officer Christopher Hoffman, who had served on the Watchung police force, Ocean County prosecutors said.
As part of a plea bargain, Superior Court Judge Linda Baxter sentenced Jason Wolek, 39, for second-degree vehicular homicide in the death of Hoffman, an Air Force veteran who was killed on East Veterans Highway in Jackson while in transit to meet his girlfriend for dinner, the Asbury Park Press reports.
Wolek, who admitted to being high on heroin that day, attempted to make a left turn in front of Hoffman's motorcycle and collided with him. He was on probation, drove with a suspended license and did not have insurance.
Hoffman, who had only been with the Watchung Police Department for one month, would have turned 29 years old five days after the accident on June 7, 2014.
Citing his criminal past, including burglary, eluding police and unlawful purchase of a firearm, among other convictions, Baxter ruled that Wolek must serve 85 percent of his term before he becomes eligible for early parole under New Jersey's No Early Release Act.
Hoffman will be honored as part of this year's New Jersey Run for the Fallen from September 23-27, with one of more than 188 miles dedicated in his name.
