Middlesex County official said a South Brunswick School District employee was struck and killed by a vehicle Wednesday morning while working.
The employee, Mr. Dean Battaglia, 53, was spraying weeds along a curb at Crossroads North Middle School on Georges Road when he was struck. Police and EMS attempted life-saving efforts but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver of the car stayed at the scene.
South Brunswick Schools Superintendent Scott Feder wrote in a letter to the school community that Battaglia was a “beloved” member of the district and a longtime employee of the building and grounds department. He also worked as a bus driver this school year and loved his students.
Battaglia leaves behind two children, and a fiancee who has three daughters - two at the township’s high school.
“Our thoughts and prayers are for his family, colleagues, and friends. We are all grieving this sad loss,” Feder wrote.
Chief Raymond Hayducka said, “The South Brunswick Police Department extends our deepest condolences to the South Brunswick School District on the loss today. We have no words, but as a community, we will work to support our district and one another as best we can during this difficult time”
Georges Road was closed for four hours as investigators pieced together the crash.
The crash remains under investigation by the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office and the South Brunswick Police Traffic Safety Bureau.