Story summary
A 2-year-old boy named James Gabriel died after being struck by a reversing Chrysler SUV in the parking lot of Bullock Farms in Cream Ridge, New Jersey on Saturday morning. The incident occurred shortly after James and his family arrived at the pumpkin-picking farm around 11 a.m., with James holding hands with his grandmother, Ellen Gabriel, who survived but was trapped under the vehicle briefly. His father, Robert Gabriel, stated that they were there for a fun day out before realizing it would be one of "absolute devastation." The toddler was rushed to Jersey Shore Medical Center where he died from blunt force trauma injuries. A fundraising campaign has raised over $18,000 for funeral and memorial expenses as the family mourns their "unimaginable loss."
Written for “Pumpkin Patch Tragedy” on 2026-10-09,
grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.
An adorable New Jersey toddler has died after being hit by a reversing car while on a day out picking pumpkins with his family.
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toddler → die → family
James Gabriel, 2, was walking with his grandmother, Ellen Gabriel, 66, in the parking lot of Bullock Farms in Upper Freehold Township on Saturday morning when they were both hit by a Chrysler SUV.
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they → walk → SUV
James's devastated parents, Robert and Meiling, told NJ.com that they had just arrived at the farm when their son was killed.
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son → tell → farm
James was airlifted to Jersey Shore Medical Center but the toddler succumbed to his injuries.
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toddler → airlift → injuries
'It was supposed to be a beautiful weekend,' Robert Gabriel said.
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Gabriel → suppose → ?
'It was not supposed to be the absolute devastation that it was.'
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it → suppose → ?
We were going there to have a good day.
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We → go → day
'Pumpkin picking and then coming back to my house and watching football.'
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Pumpkin → pick → football
James Gabriel, 2, was walking with his grandmother, Ellen Gabriel, 66, in the parking lot of Bullock Farms in Upper Freehold Township on Saturday morning when they were both hit by a Chrysler SUV
James's devastated parents, Robert and Meiling, said they had just arrived at the farm when their son was killed
Robert said he could not see the driver because he was walking ahead with his six-month-old daughter, Evelyn.
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he → walk → daughter
When he turned around, he saw his mother Ellen's head visible beneath the car.
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mother → turn → car
'She could have been easily killed.
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She → kill → ?
She's lucky,' he said.
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he → say → ?
Ellen sustained minor injuries and was taken to the hospital where she is still recovering.
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she → sustain → hospital
The family set up an online fundraising campaign for funeral and memorial expenses.
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family → set → expenses
His mother, Meiling, wrote: 'As his parents, we had a lifetime of plans for James.'
'Instead, we are now faced with something no parent should ever have to do: saying goodbye to our little boy.'
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parent → write → boy
She described him as a bubbly 'smart boy' who loved watching the cartoon Bluey, helped his dad with errands and was 'truly the light of our world.'
'It's never going to be the same without him,' Robert said.
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Robert → describe → him
James's baby sister Evelyn was born this May, sharing the same birthday as her brother.
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sister → bear → brother
Meiling said now her daughter will not be able to share a lifetime together with her big brother.
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daughter → say → brother
'We thought those four months were only the beginning of a lifetime they would share together,' she said.
'Now Evelyn will grow up knowing her big brother through our stories, photographs, videos, and memories.'
The family has raised $18,144 in donations so far.
The family set up an online fundraising campaign for funeral and memorial expenses
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family → think → expenses
The police are investigating the incident and have not yet revealed the details of the driver or whether they will face any charges
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they → investigate → charges
Bullock Farms and the Screamin' Hill brewery adjacent to it remained closed on Sunday, according to the farm's Facebook page.
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Farms → remain → page
Upper Freehold Mayor Stanley Moslowski reacted to the news and said the community was heartbroken.
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community → react → news
'We obviously never had anything like that happen in our town,' Moslowski said.
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Moslowski → have → town
'You go out to have a happy day with young kids, and it turns into a tragedy.'
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it → go → tragedy
He added that workers at the farm were offered counseling resources.
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workers → add → resources
The police are investigating the incident and have not yet revealed the details of the driver or whether they will face any charges.
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they → investigate → charges
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