Teen injured, horse killed in South Jersey hit-and-run

FRANKLIN TWP. - A horse was killed and a teenage girl injured Tuesday night in a hit-and-run, according to the Franklin Township Police Department.

Now authorities are seeking the public's help to track down the driver involved in the incident.

Franklin Township police said a 14-year-old girl from Sicklerville was traveling west on horseback in the 1500 block of Monroeville Road around 7:54 p.m. Tuesday when the horse and rider were struck by a vehicle traveling in the same direction.

According to police, the girl was accompanied by a 21-year-old Camden man, also on horseback. The pair were riding along the shoulder of the road when an "older model, light colored pickup truck" hit the horse and the girl. Authorities say the truck fled the scene heading towards Buck Road.

"Anyone driving an animal on the roadway has the same rights as any other motorist," Franklin Township Police Department Deputy Chief Mathew Decesari said.

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According to police, the girl was taken to Cooper University Hospital with non-life threatening injuries and is in stable condition. The horse, which was boarded at a Salem County farm, died at the scene, authorities said.

The Camden man and his horse were not involved in the incident, police said.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Franklin Township Police Department at 856-694-1414. Tips can also be submitted anonymously by emailing crimetips@franklintownship.com.

A South Jersey native, Anthony Coppola has handled a variety of beats at The Daily Journal, Courier-Post and Burlington County Times, including award-winning work in sports and business coverage. Coppola, who joined the staff in 2008, now focuses on public safety enterprise reporting.

This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: South Jersey teen injured, horse killed in hit-and-run