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The boy was struck by a driver who did not remain at the scene around 8 p.m. near Forest Drive and Galloping Hill Road. He was rushed to University Hospital in Newark in critical condition, where he died late Friday morning.
The Union County Prosecutor's Office identified him as Jeremy Maraj. He was a student at Kawameeh Middle School.
The driver, whose name had not been released as of Friday evening, was identified after he notified his employer of damage the van sustained in the incident, according to a news report shared by Union police.
Suspicious, the Edison-based employer decided to perform a Google search and learned that the boy had been hit, prompting a call to police, who retrieved the van.
The boy's death is now under joint investigation by the Union County Homicide Task Force and Union Police Department. Anyone with information is being urged to contact Task Force Detective Sean Holcomb at 908-358-8377 or Union Police Officer Michael Salerno at 908-851-5070.
The Union County Crime Stoppers also are offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to an arrest and indictment in this case. Tips can be given anonymously by phone at 908-654-TIPS (8477) or online at www.uctip.org.
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