A Hillside police officer who was on the job for less than a year was killed in a crash on Route 1 early Monday morning.

Officer Giovanni Esposito, 30, was off duty at the time of the crash. Esposito and a 29-year-old man were inside an Acura RDX when it crashed into a tractor-trailer driving in the center lane. The crash happened around 2:15 a.m. It was not immediately clear which person was driving.

Esposito joined the Hillside Police Department in November 2017. 

Hillside Police Chief Vincent Ricciardi said in a statement that Esposito graduated at the top of his class from the Essex County Police Academy. Esposito was described as a warm and friendly person who was well-liked by his co-workers.

Officials did not release the 29-year-old’s name and it was not clear if he was also a police officer. That person was taken to the hospital and is said to be in serious condition.

The driver of the truck was not injured. 

The crash closed Route 1 for several hours Monday morning.

The cause of the crash is under investigation.