Child fatally struck by police cruiser in Franklin Township, NJ

FRANKLIN TWP., N.J. -- A young boy on his way to a sleepover was struck and killed by a police cruiser while crossing the street with friends in Franklin Township, New Jersey.

It happened at 7:00 p.m. Sunday at the intersection of Delsea Drive and Paul Street.

"The victim was a 10-year-old boy and the driver was a Franklin Township police officer," said Chief Detective John Porter, Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office.

Family members of the 10-year-old victim tell Action News that he and two other boys were crossing the street at the time.

One boy made it across, another boy was about to cross and the victim was crossing when he was struck in the middle of the road.

The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

The prosecutor's office hasn't confirmed if the officer was responding to a call. But a witness tells Action News that the vehicle's lights and sirens were not activated.

The father of the two young boys who were with the victim was in a truck with his girlfriend and an infant. He says they were trailing behind the boys when they saw the accident.

The mother of the victim tells Action News that she arrived at the scene after receiving a call at work, but police kept her away.

As for the officer behind the wheel, he was taken to an area hospital for unknown injuries.

The crash remains under investigation by the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office.