9-Year-Old Boy Killed In Deck Collapse In Middlesex County: Cops

A 9-year-old New Jersey boy was killed Thursday and his 13-year-old cousin was hospitalized after they fell 15 feet when a deck collapsed, according to police.

Perth Amboy Mayor Wilda Diaz identified the boy as Dariel Sosa, 9. Jason Huerta, 13, was hospitalized in the deck collapse. Grief counselors were expected to be at Sosa's school on Friday.

"On behalf of the city of Perth Amboy, I want to extend my sincerest condolences to the family, their loved ones and classmates," Diaz said in a statement. "Our Perth Amboy chaplains were with the families yesterday evening to offer grief counseling. We ask our community to join in prayer and good faith, as they mourn the loss of their 9-year old son. "

A GoFundMe page has been set up for Sosa's memorial.

The deck collapsed on the second floor of a building in Perth Amboy, according to police, causing the boys to fall to the ground on Brighton Avenue.

The two cousins were out on the deck attached to a home on Brighton Avenue around 5 p.m. Thursday, according to police, when the railing gave way and caused the boys to fall about 15 feet.

Sosa was killed and his 13-year-old cousin was seriously injured, according to police. The 13-year-old was airlifted to Robert Wood Johnson Hospital and is said to be in stable condition.

Perth Amboy Police Chief Roman McKeon told News12 the incident is heartbreaking for everyone. "What's important for everyone to know here in the city of Perth Amboy is that if we lose one, we all lose someone,” he said. “A loss of young life like this, it affects all of us."

McKeon said grief counselors would be at the 9-year-old's school on Friday, according to News12.

We'll have more information as it comes in.

GoFundMe photo