A 12-year-old New Jersey boy was killed Monday by a falling tree during gusty winds

LAWRENCE TOWNSHIP, NJ– A New Jersey boy died Monday after a tree fell on him during a period of gusty winds.

The 12-year-old boy was playing with a friend in his backyard Monday afternoon in Lawrence Township, north of Trenton, when the wind blew down a tree and landed on the child, police said.

Police responded to the incident and freed the child from under the tree.

The boy was resuscitated and he was taken to a nearby hospital. According to police, the boy died in hospital from his injuries.

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Wind gusts in the area near Lawrence Township, New Jersey, peaked between 25 and 35 miles per hour on Monday, according to the National Weather Service.

The boy was in 7th grade at the local high school. District officials said counselors would be on hand this week to help grieving students and staff.