A business employee was struck and killed by a commercial vehicle Friday evening in a parking lot on Commerce Drive in Franklin Township, Somerset County. The crash happened around 6:18 p.m. as the vehicle was being driven through the lot, according to police.
Public Safety Director Lloyd N. Fredericks said the crash occurred on Commerce Drive around that time, as reported by nj.com. A preliminary investigation found that the employee was struck while the commercial vehicle was being driven through the company's parking lot, according to the Daily Voice. Officers received a report of the strike at approximately 6:18 p.m., per NBC Philadelphia.
Investigation Still Underway
Fredericks called the incident tragic and said the department was investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash. In a statement, he said, “Our department is conducting a thorough investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the crash.” Authorities have not identified the victim or released the name of the business where the crash occurred, the same nj.com report notes.
The preliminary account indicates the commercial vehicle struck the employee as it moved through the lot, though the exact cause of the crash has not been disclosed. No additional details about the vehicle, its driver, or the employee have been made public as the investigation continues.
Tip Line Open for Witnesses
Authorities are asking anyone with information about the crash to contact Officer Jelani Lanier at 732-873-5533, extension 3246. The investigation remains ongoing, and no further updates have been released on the case.
Parking lot fatalities involving vehicles have surfaced elsewhere in New Jersey in recent weeks. Earlier this month, a 2-year-old child was struck and killed by a vehicle in a parking lot in Upper Freehold Township, Monmouth County, according to Daily Voice. That crash occurred in a lot used by Bullock Farms and Screamin' Hill brewery, with a Chrysler SUV striking a 66-year-old Roselle Park woman and a juvenile while backing out of a parking space.
