NJ police cruiser hits, kills man walking in roadway, officials say

A southern New Jersey police officer responding to a call struck and killed a man who was walking on a roadway.

Ocean County prosecutors say the accident occurred around 11:15 p.m. Saturday in Manchester Township.

The officer was responding to a township home where a man who apparently was confused and drunk had tried to force his way into the residence. But the man fled when the homeowner confronted him.

While driving on New York Avenue, the officer's cruiser struck 23-year-old township resident Keith Atkinson Jr., who apparently was walking in the roadway. The officer swerved in a bid to avoid Atkinson, but he was struck by the passenger side of the cruiser.

The officer, whose name was not disclosed, was not injured in the accident.