Boy, 2, struck and killed by reversing SUV while pumpkin picking in NJ: ‘Absolute devastation’

A 2-year-old boy was killed on a pumpkin-picking outing with his family when an SUV reversed into him and his grandma in the New Jersey farm’s parking lot, according to the family and police.

James Gabriel had just arrived at Bullock Farms in Cream Ridge around 11 a.m. Saturday when a Chrysler SUV reversed into him as he walked holding hands with his grandmother, Ellen Gabriel, who survived despite being trapped under the vehicle, according to NJ.com

“Everybody’s devastated,” said the tragic toddler’s dad, Robert Gabriel, who was walking ahead with his 4-month-old baby daughter when his son and mom were struck.

James Gabriel was killed on what should have been a pumpkin-picking outing with his family. Gofundme “He was as healthy as could be. He was as happy as could be,” he said of his son affectionately known as Jimmy James.

“We were going there to have a good day. Pumpkin picking and then coming back to my house and watching football,” the dad said.

“It was supposed to be a beautiful weekend … It was not supposed to be the absolute devastation that it was.”

James was rushed to Jersey Shore Medical Center, where he died from blunt force trauma injuries.

“It’s never going to be the same without him,” his overwhelmed dad said of their “unimaginable loss.”

Robert said he was walking ahead with his baby daughter, Evelyn, when he looked back and saw his mom’s head trapped under the SUV.

“She could have easily been killed,” he said of Ellen, who is recovering after somehow only suffering minor injuries. “She’s lucky.”

State Police said the crash remains under investigation and have not said if the driver will face charges, NJ.com noted.

The tragedy happened at Bullock Farms on Saturday. Google Maps The tragic toddler “loved trucks, cars and planes,” his mom, Meiling Gabriel, said in a fundraiser.

“The ordinary things that adults might pass by without noticing-a plane high above, a yellow school bus on the road, a car driving past-were exciting discoveries to James,” she wrote.

“Through his eyes, we learned to stop, look, and share in that excitement with him.”

His online obit said he “brought immeasurable joy, laughter, and love into the lives of his family from the moment he entered the world.”

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“Though his time with us was far too short, the love he gave and the happiness he brought into our lives will last forever,” his family said.

James was truly the light of our world. He had a beautiful smile that could brighten any room and a personality much bigger than his little two-year-old body,” they wrote.

“As his parents, we had a lifetime of plans for James.”

Bullock Farms described Gabriel’s death as a “terrible tragedy,” adding it is “heartbroken by this unimaginable loss.”

New Jersey State Police did not immediately respond to requests for an update on the investigation.