A New Jersey state trooper died early Tuesday, hours after he sustained severe head injuries when he was hit by a vehicle at the scene of an accident, state police said.

Trooper Sean Cullen was 31 years old and had been a trooper for about two years.

Cullen had responded to an accident in the southbound lanes of Interstate 295 in Deptford Township around 8:15 p.m. Monday. A car was on fire and several fire trucks and police vehicles had emergency lights on, state police said. He was walking near the crash when he was struck by a vehicle.

Cullen was airlifted to Cooper University Hospital in Camden with severe head injuries. Family members and numerous law enforcement officers held a vigil before State Police Superintendent Col. Rick Fuentes told them that Cullen had died at about 12:30 a.m. Tuesday.

The 22-year-old woman who hit the trooper stopped and was cooperating with investigators.

No charges have been filed and the investigation was ongoing.

The last New Jersey state trooper to die in the line of duty was Eli McCarson. McCarson, 30, died when his patrol car struck a utility pole after responding to a call in Salem County on Dec. 17.

McCarson was trapped while rescuers in Quinton Township opened the jammed doors, and he died a short time later at a hospital.

(AP)