Family Identifies Child Fatally Struck by Police Cruiser in Franklin Township

ABC 6 News

FRANKLIN TWP., N.J. (WPVI) — 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.

10-year-old Matt McCloskey was with two other friends when they were crossing Delsea Drive near his home around 7:00 Sunday night.  

They were on their way to a sleepover.

Matt’s grandmother, Dottie Duffy, says there were two adults with the boys. She says as Matt started across the street the others saw a fast approaching vehicle and called for Matt to come back.

It was too late and he was run down by a police car driven by Franklin Township Police Officer Nicholas Locilento.

Witnesses say the police car did not have its lights or siren activated.

Franklin Township released a statement last night saying Officer Locilento was responding to an urgent call at the time.

A spokesman for the Gloucester County prosecutor says they are investigating the nature of the call, but don’t know yet what the emergency was.

As part of the investigation, the prosecutor’s office has asked for a copy of the police department’s policy on the use of lights and sirens.

Following the accident, Gloucester County Detectives Chief John Porter said, “The matter is currently under investigation. We’ll release more details as we receive them. And we would like to offer our deepest condolences to the family of that child.”

The officer was taken to the hospital after the accident. It is normal procedure to take a blood sample from the driver of a car involved in a fatal accident.

The Township administrator says the officer is very shaken up.

Matthew was the youngest of four children. He was in fifth grade at Reutter Elementary School. The kids are off on break, but the school will be open Wednesday morning to make grief counselors
available.

Grieving members of the community have started a roadside memorial.

Ironically, Matt’s grandmother says he wanted to become a police officer, and had even attended police camp over the summer.

Neighbors say he was a delightful kid.

Neighbor Toni DeMarco reacted by saying, “Shocked. It couldn’t have happened at a worse time. Kids are off from school enjoying their holiday break and that had to happen. Just tragic.”

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