Horrific Time Of Fatal Tragedy For 5 NJ Children
One 6-year-old child fell out of her window after jumping on her bed. Another darted into traffic, and was killed by a car. Yet another died following gym class.
And just last night, the body of a 12-year-old boy was recovered from a Burlington County lake after police said he fell in while fishing off a pier with friends. Helicopters and divers searched for more than 3 hours.
It has been one of the most tragic weeks for New Jersey children in recent memory. At least five children 14 years old and under – two of them toddlers – died in the past week, three of which appeared to be accidental.
All five were obviously shocking, and drew statewide attention and sorrow. Here they are:
NJ Boy, 2, Dies, Mom Critical After Child Darts Into Street
A 2-year-old boy has died after he and his mother were struck by a truck on Tuesday. His mother chased the child after he darted into the Hamilton Township, Mercer County street, police said.
The boy, whose name has not been released, darted out between two cars that were parked on residential Lynwood Avenue, near Walnut Avenue in Hamilton Township, at 3:54 p.m., police said.
His mother, 37, tried to grab him, and she was struck by the truck as well, according to police. The woman, who also wasn’t identified, has remained critical condition at Capital Health Regional Medical Center. Read more…
‘Sweet’ NJ Girl, 6, Who Jumped On Bed Before Fatal Fall Is ID’d
The neighbors used to see Yodia Encarnacion walking around with her mother all the time. She had to. Her mother couldn’t speak English very well, according to ABC7. So the 6-year-old girl translated for her.
They called her a “sweet, girl” who “brightened everyone’s spirit,” according to ABC7. She was doing what she always does when her mother had friends over their Newark residence, making everybody happy.
She was jumping on the bed with about 6 other kids, brightening everyone’s day. Then Yodia fell out of her window, one that had no guard, according to authorities.
Yodia Encarnacion fell through the open window in Newark that may have had a screen, according to the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office. She was pronounced dead on Tuesday morning. Read more…
Body Of 12-Year-Old Boy Pulled From NJ Lake
The body of a 12-year-old boy was recovered from a Burlington County lake late Thursday after police said he fell in while fishing off a pier with friends.
Police and emergency crews were searching for the missing child, who was not identified, in the New Jersey lake for more than 3 hours, police said. A group of kids went into the lake around 4:49 p.m. but one did not return to the shore, according to police.
A dive team went into the water to search for the boy. The body was still submerged because of murky water conditions, according to police. Read more…
Police Investigating Toddler’s Death In Gloucester Township
Gloucester Township police and the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office are conducting an investigation into a child’s death at a home on Marcia Court in Gloucester Township Thursday evening.
Police are investigating the death of a toddler, according to 6 ABC. The mother frantically knocked on a neighbor’s door asking for help earlier in the day after discovering the baby wasn’t moving in the crib.
Police are searching for the mother’s boyfriend as a person of interest in the case, according to NBC 10. Read more…
Freshman, 14, Dies Following Gym Class
A 14-year-old Franklin Township High School freshman died Tuesday morning following a gym class, according to school officials.
The ninth grade student reportedly collapsed and was unresponsive while on the field at the high school at 9:10 a.m. during a physical education class, Franklin Township School District spokeswoman Mary L. Clark said.
CPR was performed by staff and he was taken to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick by ambulance. He was pronounced at approximately 11:15 a.m., according to Clark. Read more…
YouTube video/photo of Hamilton incident, Yodia Encarnacion and Burlington incident
