14-Year-Old Boy Dies After Being Hit By Pickup Truck In Manville

MANVILLE, NJ — A 14-year-old boy has died after being hit by a pickup truck as he crossed North Main Street on Tuesday night in Manville, according to Manville Police Officer in Charge Lt. Craig Jeremiah.

At around 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 20, police were called to North Main Street, between Knopf Street and Dukes Parkway on the report a pedestrian had been hit by a vehicle.

Police began first aid until emergency medical services arrived. The boy was taken by State Police Medevac to Robert Wood Johnson Trauma Center in New Brunswick where he later died from his injuries.

The boy was identified as George Watkins, said Manville Police.

"George was a Manville High School freshman and an accomplished athlete. He was on the school basketball team and was looking forward to playing on the baseball team in the spring. George played for the middle school champion baseball team last year. Additionally, George participated in wrestling. George aspired to be a police officer and acted as a mentor to younger children in the Plainfield Junior Police Academy," said police.

George recently graduated Alexander Batcho Intermediate School this year and was a freshman at Manville High School.

An investigation by the Manville Police Department Traffic Safety Unit, Somerset County Prosecutor's Office Collision Analysis Reconstruction Team, and Manville Detectives determined the driver of the pickup truck was driving south on North Main Street when the boy was hit, said police.

The boy was crossing the street from the west side of the street, towards the Marketplace Mall Parking lot when he was hit, said police.

As a result, North Main Street was closed until around 9:20 p.m.

The pickup truck was identified as a 2019 Ford F-150 being driven by a 40-year-old Somerset County man. The driver of the pickup remained on the scene and is fully cooperating with police.

The pickup truck was towed from the scene for forensic and technological examination.

The State Police Aviation Unit, Manville Fire Department, Robert Wood Johnson Hospital Paramedics, and the Somerville Rescue Squad helped at the scene.

No charges have been filed, however, the investigation is continuing.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Manville Police Traffic Safety Unit at 908-725-1900 Ext. 610 or the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office at 908-575-3300.

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