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Police: Young boy killed in Methuen crash

METHUEN, Mass. — A young boy was killed Tuesday morning in a crash in Methuen on the way to the YMCA.

The crash happened just before 7:30 a.m. in the area of Berkley Street and East Brook Place. According to the Methuen Police Chief, 34-year-old Flor De-Paz and her son were in a car that didn't fully stop at a stop sign. The car was then hit by a van.

"When I put my foot on the gas I saw a big white van coming and I knew he was going to hit me," she said.

The 6-year-old child, named Brian, was thrown from the car and apparently run over by the van, the police chief said. The van crashed through a fence and into a wall of the Meeting House Hill Cemetery.

"I got out of the car and he was gone I opened the door and said Brian where are you and he wasn't there,” De-Paz said.

Brian was pronounced dead at the scene.

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De-Paz, a Methuen resident, was taken to the hospital for emotional trauma. Police said her injuries were non-life threatening.

No information has been released on the driver of the van, who was taken to the police department for questioning.

It's unclear if the child was restrained in the car at the time of the crash.

“Honestly, I wasn't aware if he did or did not. Every day I tell him to – ‘Brian put your seat belt on.’ A lot of times I stop the car to make sure he did but today I didn't.” De-Paz said.

RAW SOUND FROM POLICE CHIEF

Methuen police updating us on tragic crash that killed young child this morning... Just terrible... FOX25 News ------------ Update: http://fox25.com/29RdOG1

Posted by Michael Henrich Boston 25 on Tuesday, July 19, 2016

This is a developing story, stick with FOX25Boston.com for the latest updates.