Holly MatkinPhillipsburg, NJ – Phillipsburg Police Department (PPD) Officer Dominic “Dom” Belcastro died on April 3 after a vehicle pulled out in front of him as he was riding his motorcycle.
The incident occurred at approximately 6:30 p.m. while Officer Belcastro was riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle eastbound on Memorial Parkway, Warrant County Prosecutor Jim Pfeiffer told Lehigh Valley Live.
Meanwhile, a woman in a 2000 Toyota Camry was stopped at the stop sign on Firth Street, waiting cross Memorial Parkway, according to Pfeiffer.
The Toyota pulled out into the highway as Officer Belcastro approached, so he put the bike down as a crash evasion tactic, the prosecutor told Lehigh Valley Live.
The motorcycle slid past the Toyota, but Officer Belcastro’s body and the Toyota collided.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Pfeiffer said Officer Belcastro had the right-of-way, and that the driver of the vehicle that hit him could face charges, Lehigh Valley Live reported.
The investigation into the fatal crash remains ongoing.
“The Phillipsburg Police Department is mourning the loss of one of our own,” the PPD said in a Facebook post on April 4. “Officer Dominic Belcastro was tragically killed in an off duty motorcycle accident on April 3rd, 2021.”
Officer Belcastro served the PPD for eight years, and was a member of the agency’s honor guard, Lehigh Valley Live reported.
He was also a U.S. Army veteran and served on the Warren County Tactical Response Team, WKXW reported.
“Officer Dominic Belcastro was one of the good ones,” the Warren County Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post.
He leaves behind his wife of nine years, Kristen, as well as his children, Lilawyn Mae and Georgia, according to his obituary.
“Dom was a devoted family man,” the tribute read. “His life, as his personality, was too big for words.”
Officer Belcastro is also survived by his parents, brother, nieces, nephews, and his goddaughters.
A fundraising campaign established to help his family in the wake of their loss has raised over $70,200 so far.
Officer Belcastro was laid to rest on Thursday.
The Italian American Police Society of N.J. mourns the loss of Phillipsburg Police Officer Dominic Belcastro, who was tragically killed in an accident while off duty. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife and children as well as the members of the Phillipsburg Police Dept. pic.twitter.com/AeH6Ok2l6v
— IAPSNJ (@IAPSNJ) April 5, 2021
R.I.P Officer Dominic D. Belcastro #320 pic.twitter.com/ey6NPvb3vw
— Kalein 🖤💛 (@Kaleinnn) April 8, 2021
@LehighValley images from this morning's funeral for @Phillipsburg Police Officer Dominic Belcastro from @SaedHindash and yours truly. Story by @RudyMillerLV. @PhillipsburgPD #LehighValley https://t.co/DmRegD4vyi pic.twitter.com/jEkoukqnLI
— Donna Fisher (@DonnaFisherMC) April 8, 2021
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Phillipsburg Police Department (PPD) Officer Dominic “Dom” Belcastro, both blood and blue. Thank you for your service.
Rest easy, hero. We’ll hold the line from here.
