Sicklerville Teen Killed In Hit-And-Run Outside Group Home

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ — Trohkeem Brantley was outside the group home he lived in with his peers under a clear sky Tuesday night when he was suddenly struck by a passing driver. Now, his family and his peers are in mourning, and the man responsible for the 18-year-old's sudden death has surrendered to police.

Brantley was outside the home with other residents of the home when he was struck by 66-year-old Bruce Bennet, of Franklinville, at about 8:16 p.m. Tuesday night. Brantley was taken to Jefferson Hospital in Washington Township, where he was declared deceased a short time later.

"No words can express how shocked and saddened we are over the tragic loss of this young man," YCS President and CEO Tara Augustine told Patch in a statement. "We have notified his family and are providing grief counseling to all the young men and staff at the YCS group home."

YCS is a private, non-profit, behavioral health, social services agency that provides therapeutic services to individuals from birth through young adulthood. Augustine had no further comment to Patch on Wednesday.

NBC 10 reports that Bennett hopped the curb and struck Brantley.

Police said Bennett failed to stop after striking Brantley, and fled east on Sicklerville Road toward Cross Keys Road. Bennett surrendered after officers on the scene had sent out an alert to the public to be on alert for a midsize dark SUV with heavy damage to windshield, hood and passenger side, police said.

Gloucester Township police and the Camden County Prosecutor's Office were following up on tips and leads provided by witnesses and the public when Bennett surrendered, police said.

Bennett has been charged with second-degree leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident resulting in death, police said. He was released pending his next court appearance in accordance with bail reform guidelines.

Sicklerville Road was closed between Jarvis Road and Stone Bridge Drive for about four hours while police investigated the crash.

Anyone who witnessed the crash or has any further information about it is asked to call the Gloucester Township Police Department at 856-228-4500 or the GTPD Anonymous Tip Line at 856-842-5560. To send an anonymous tip via text message, text the keyword “TIPGLOTWPPD” and your tip message to 888777.