Sandalwood Elementary Student Died From Crash: Police

ESSEX, MD — Police said a 7-year-old girl died after she was hit by a vehicle Thursday afternoon near Sandalwood Elementary School. The vehicle remained at the scene, authorities reported.

Based on the initial investigation, officials said the crash occurred in the 900 block of South Marlyn Avenue at 3:26 p.m. across the street from the elementary school, where the girl was in the second grade.

Na Tasha Newman, 7, of the 1000 block of Punjab Drive, had been standing on one side of a driveway entry into a residential community and her brothers were on the other side of the driveway, police said; when a white work van was pulling out of the community, she ran in front of the vehicle and was hit, officials reported.

According to WBAL, the girl was running to catch up with other children and was lagging behind. Officer Jen Peach told the news station that the driver had stopped for the group and was moving again when the girl ran and was hit by the front corner of the van.

She was taken to a local hospital with serious injuries, according to police, who later confirmed the child died.

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Patch file photo.