The photo is joyous and heartbreaking. A beaming Marc K. Castellano, clad in a royal blue graduation cap and gown, holds his 4-year-old daughter and 1-year old son in his arms.

Stephanie Castellano and Ocean Township Police Officer Nick Castellano, the wife and brother of New Jersey State Police Trooper Marc K. Castellano, say their final goodbyes to the officer during his funeral on June 12 at St. Rose of Lima Cemetery, Freehold Township. Castellano was struck and killed by a vehicle on I-195 on June 6 while he was performing duties related to his job. More photos at gmnews.com. ERIC SUCAR The picture was taken in May, when Castellano, a 29-year-old New Jersey State Police trooper who lived in Howell, received his master’s degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University and celebrated the occasion with his wife, Stephanie, and his children.

One month later, Castellano was gone. The graduation photo was used in the program for his funeral service.

Marc K. Castellano Castellano was laid to rest on June 12 at St. Rose of Lima Cemetery in Freehold Township, six days after he died from injuries he sustained when he was struck by a car on Interstate 195 in Howell during a police search.

Howell Mayor Robert F. Walsh estimated that more than 5,000 people attended Castellano’s funeral at St. Veronica Church, Howell, on the morning of June 12. Gov. Chris Christie spoke at the trooper’s funeral.

“It was very sad,” Walsh said. “Such a tragic loss of life.”

Authorities have not yet released details of the collision between a vehicle and Castellano, which happened near the entrance ramp to Interstate 195 west near Exit 31 in Howell.

A simple white cross and an American flag mark the spot near where Castellano was struck by a Volkswagen Jetta driven by Robert Swan, 20, of Jackson, at about 10 a.m. June 6.

A mourner is overcome with emotion during the funeral of State Trooper Marc K. Castellano on June 12 in Freehold Township. ERIC SUCAR staff Castellano, of Howell, was assisting in a massive police search for the occupants of an abandoned 2010 Ford Fusion when he was hit by Swan’s vehicle.

Monmouth County First Assistant Prosecutor Peter E. Warshaw Jr. told Greater Media Newspapers that all of the circumstances surrounding the events of June 6 — including the situation involving Diana Hoffman, who was arrested in connection with the abandoned vehicle on Interstate 195, and the collision between Swan’s vehicle and Castellano — remain under investigation.

Warshaw said authorities have one month to lodge charges against Swan, if the investigation determines that charges are warranted.

Swan, a cadet at the United States Military Academy, West Point, N.Y., is a rising senior at the academy, said West Point spokeswoman Theresa Brinkerhoff.

Officials at the academy are aware of the June 6 accident, but Swan’s status at West Point is unchanged since he has not been charged with any violation in connection with the accident. Cadets are due back at the academy in mid-August, Brinkerhoff said.

Swan is a graduate of Jackson Memorial High School. He was an outstanding wrestler for the Jaguars, winning two district titles and winning three medals in regional tournaments on his way to appearances in the NJSIAA state tournament.

Hoffman, 30, of Blackwood, was arrested in connection with the abandoned car that precipitated the police search along the highway on the morning of June 6. She had told police an armed man was riding with her in the car and had fled into the woods near the highway exit. Authorities later determined Hoffman had fabricated the story about the man.

Hoffman was charged with creating a false public alarm that led to Castellano’s death, second-degree eluding, third-degree hindering arrest by physical force against a police officer, third-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance believed to be heroin, and third-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance believed to be cocaine, Warshaw has said.

Hoffman remains lodged in the Monmouth County jail, Freehold Township.

Castellano was transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune, and died several hours after he was struck by Swan’s car. The cause of death was blunt force trauma related to the collision.

Castellano graduated from the New Jersey State Police Academy in 2004. He was a member of the Troop C Tactical Patrol Unit. He was a 1998 graduate of Jackson Memorial High School, Jackson.

Carl Perino, assistant principal at Jackson Memorial High School, coached the linebackers on the 1998 football team. Castellano, a co-captain, was “one of my guys,” Perino said.

“It’s a shame,” Perino said. “We hope his family is going to be supported and remember him for the hero he was. He was one of a kind. This one hit home for me. I often thought about how Marc was doing. Always smiling, always positive. He was a true leader. Marc was so proud of his younger brother (Nicholas). He always talked about him.”

Nicholas Castellano is a police officer in Ocean Township.

The State Troopers Fraternal Association has set up a fund for Castellano’s children, Julianna and Vincent, through TD Bank. Checks may be made out to TPR Castellano Children’s Fund, c/o STFA and mailed to 2634 Route 70, Manasquan, NJ 08736.