It was with a heavy heart that Delaware River Port Authority police chief Dave McClintock delivered the grim news.
"The members of our department are deeply saddened, along with the Milito family, in the loss of Corporal Christopher Milito," Chief McClintock said.
40-year-old Corporal Christopher Milito was just weeks shy of his 16th anniversary with the department, when, just before 2:00 a.m. Saturday morning, he responded to an accident on the eastbound side of the Walt Whitman Bridge.
Police say while another officer was investigating, Milito noticed a driver trying to make a u-turn to avoid the scene. When Milito tried to tell the driver not to make the turn, he was struck by another driver.
A nurse coming from a hospital saw what happened and tried to render aid as another officer rushed him to Cooper Hospital in Camden. He died shortly thereafter.
So far, no charges have been filed against that driver.
"That accident is under investigation by our officers as well as the Philadelphia Police Department's Accident Investigation Division," Chief McClintock said.
Corporal Milito's family is understandably distraught. His niece Jaime spoke fondly about him to Action News.
"He was like my father. He was a really good cooker; he reminded me of my grandmom and he was very family oriented. We were very close," Jamie said. "He was the one who motivated me to go to school and would do everything. He would have been a great father and a husband. He was an amazing guy."
Milito is only the second Port Authority officer killed in the line of duty. The last time an officer in this department was killed was in 1974.
Milito was highly regarded by his colleagues in the department:
"He is a well-respected, admired, well decorated supervisor in our police department," Chief McClintock said.
As police continue their investigation, they will close the eastbound side of the Walt Whitman Bridge for 45 minutes tonight beginning at midnight.
Flags have been ordered to be flown at half-staff in honor of Corporal Milito at all Delaware River Port Authority facilities. His funeral arrangements are still pending, but he will be buried with full police honors.
