Hundreds Honor Late Trooper During Vigil

CUMBERLAND COUNTY (CBS) -- Hundreds of people showed up to honor the late Trooper Frankie Williams on a cold Thursday night in Cumberland County.

Williams, 31, was responding to a call of an erratic driver on Route 55 in Cumberland County Monday night.

New Jersey State Police officials say a man driving in a Toyota Corolla traveled across the grass median, entered the northbound lane and struck Williams. Police identified the driver of the Corolla as 61-year-old Lloyd Rudley, of Elmer, New Jersey.

"My son was a hero from the day he was born. " Williams' mother Victoria told the crowd.

Williams grew up in Florida, but later called New Jersey home. He was flown to Cooper Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Ruth Ann Fox and her husband didn't know Williams, but felt compelled to come out and learn more about him.

"It's absolutely senseless and terrible," Fox told Eyewitness News.

Victoria Williams joined her son's former colleagues who lit candles to honor him. Trooper Williams was a newlywed and would have celebrated a year with the New Jersey State Police next month.

"I want to thank you because every time I fall down, you pick me back up," Williams told the crowd.