49°
Lucas Schwartz, 12, was identified as the victim of the Eldridge Avenue incident in Lawrence Township on a GoFundMe page.
Police said he'd been playing with a friend in the backyard of a home when gusty winds blew the tree over, and it fell onto him around 12:09 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 14.
Officers freed Schwartz from under the tree and began CPR. Paramedics rushed Lucas to Capital Health System Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced dead from his injuries.
The Lawrence Township School District had counselors available to help grieving students and staff. Therapy dogs and the Mercer County Traumatic Loss Coalition will also assist.
This was at least the second tree-related death on a windy day across New Jersey. A New Jersey Transit train operator died and 24 passengers were injured when a tree fell on the River LINE train in Mansfield Township at around 6 a.m.
The Mercer County Homicide Task Force is working with Lawrence police on the investigation.
Click here to donate to the Olivieri-Schwartz family.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Hillside and receive free news updates.
