Local News: Hammonton man fatally hit by Mullica police car
Posted in The Atlantic City Press: Saturday, November 9, 2013 12:00 am
A Hammonton man was struck and killed by a Mullica Township police car patrolling the scene of an unexplained accident, the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office said.
Frank Perri Jr., 44, of Hammonton, was struck by a patrol car driven by Mullica police Officer Ryan Hutton shortly before 5 a.m. Friday, acting Atlantic County Prosecutor Jim McClain said in a statement.
Hutton was investigating an abandoned vehicle found crashed into a pole and disabled on the northbound side of Weymouth Road, McClain said. Hamilton Township police, who initially found the car, were unable to locate a driver.
As Hutton was patrolling the crash area, Perri — the apparent driver of the disabled car — allegedly walked into the road directly into the path of Hutton’s patrol car and was struck, McClain said.
Perri was pronounced dead at the scene. Hutton was taken to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, Mainland Campus in Galloway Township, for nonlife-threatening injuries.
The Medical Examiner’s Office will conduct an autopsy on Perri, McClain said.
Anyone with information about the crash is asked to call the Atlantic County Crash Investigations Unit at 609-909-7692.
Contact Steven Lemongello: 609-272-7275 SLemongello@pressofac.com
