Overview
- A 13-year-old boy was found unconscious beneath an overturned farm tractor on the 1100 block of Swedesboro Road; officers lifted the vehicle, began life-saving measures and the boy later died at Cooper University Hospital.
- An adult man who was riding the tractor with the boy suffered minor injuries and was treated at a local hospital.
- Franklin Township and Elk Township police units responded to the scene and the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office has joined the ongoing investigation; the boy’s identity has not been released.
- Police say an initial probe indicates the teen was helping a family member dig a hole and was riding the tractor when it overturned, and reports do not confirm whether the machine had a rollover protective structure.
- Officials say any criminal charges will depend on the investigation’s findings, which could also prompt local reviews of equipment safety and farm practices as the community copes with the loss.