On April 22nd, 1976, Officer Del Gaudio was killed while in the pursuit of an impaired and reckless driver. The officer collided with another police car and then careened into the wall of a home. His death was instrumental in persuading the State Legislature to enact the Unlawful Flight statute. Officer Del Gaudio was twenty-six at the time of his death. He was survived by his wife who was five months pregnant.