New Jersey State Police, New Jersey
End of Watch: Tuesday, December 2, 1969
Age: 24
Tour of Duty: 1 year
Badge Number: 2353
Cause of Death: Vehicular assault
Date of Incident: December 2, 1969
Weapon Used: Automobile; Alcohol involved
Suspect Info: Killed
Trooper Prato was killed at 8:19 p.m. in an automobile accident on I-295 in West Deptford Township.
His patrol car was traveling north on the inside lane when he was struck head-on by a drunk driver in a 1963 Chevrolet convertible heading south in the northbound lane at mile marker 19.3. The 50-year-old drunk driver was also killed.
Trooper Prato had served with the agency for 13 months. He was survived by his wife and two sons, ages 4 and 2.