A 12-year-old Freehold Township boy who was critically injured while skateboarding has died following the accident that killed his 13-year-old friend, authorities said.

Graeme Preston, who was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune after being hit by a minivan Wednesday, died at about 5 p.m. Thursday, township police Lt. Lawrence Loos said tonight.


Patti Sapone/The Star-Ledger
A memorial for Graeme Preston and Kevin Clawson who died after they were hit by a 2006 Dodge Caravan early Wednesday evening on Bar Harbor Road near Sabina Terrace in Freehold Twp.

Graeme's friend Kevin Clawson was pronounced dead shortly after he was hit by the same vehicle. The names of both boys were released Thursday.

The boys were hit by a 2006 Dodge Caravan shortly after 6 p.m. Wednesday on Bar Harbor Road near Sabina Terrace, police said.

Capt. James Lasky, a spokesman for township police, said no summonses have been issued to the 84-year-old minivan driver, Frederick C. Eckhardt of Freehold Borough. He was released after being taken for observation to CentraState Medical Center in Freehold Township, where Kevin died shortly after his arrival.

"Right now it doesn't appear there will be any charges," Lasky said. "Anything can happen, but right now it doesn't appear he was speeding."

Alcohol did not play a role in the accident, said Monmouth County Prosecutor Luis Valentin.
Lasky said there are streetlights along the road near the residential Juniper Farms development, but none right where the accident occurred. He said it was around dusk, "kind of dark," at the time.

At the Clawson home less than a mile away, a woman who identified herself only as the victim's aunt said the family had no comment.

"It's really not the right time," she said.

Both boys were seventh-graders at the Dwight D. Eisenhower Middle School, where officials referred calls to the township school superintendent's office.

"It's a difficult day today," Superintendent William Setaro said. "It's very somber, obviously. Many of the children are upset, and so is the staff."

Setaro said a crisis-management team was convened immediately after officials learned of the accident Wednesday night.

Lasky and Lt. Dean Smith, traffic safety officer for the Freehold Township police, said that on public roads, the same rules apply to skateboarders and bicyclists. They must travel in the direction of traffic flow and keep as far to the right as possible. Helmets are required.

Smith said Graeme's helmet was found at the scene with its chinstrap strapped.

"Whether he was wearing it improperly or carrying it, we don't know," he said.