A 13-year-old boy in Franklin Township died after getting trapped underneath an overturned farm tractor Monday night, according to officials.
A statement released by Franklin Township police Tuesday morning said officers from Franklin and Elk Townships responded to the 1100 block of Swedesboro Road around 5:35 p.m. and found the teen unconscious and unresponsive beneath the tractor.
Officers began lifesaving measures once the tractor was lifted, and the teen was taken to Cooper University Hospital, where he died of his injuries, according to the police statement.
An initial investigation showed that the teen was helping a family member dig a hole with the tractor. While riding the equipment with an adult male, the tractor overturned, trapping the teen underneath and leaving the adult with minor injuries. The adult was treated at a local hospital.
The adult who rode the tractor is a family member of the teen, though Police Chief Matthew DeCesari declined to share more about their relationship.
“The incident remains under investigation by the Franklin Township Police Department and the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office,” the police statement said. “The investigation is ongoing, and any potential criminal charges will be determined upon its conclusion.”