A volunteer Manchester Township Fire Chief was killed early Tuesday morning after being struck by an SUV while working in a construction zone on the New Jersey Turnpike, TLS has learned.

Brian Flanagan, 47, served as chief of the Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Company for the past several years.

The crash occurred at approximately 3:52 a.m. on the south outer roadway of the Turnpike near milepost 87.7 in Edison Township, Middlesex County.

According to State Police, Flanagan was working within a marked construction zone where two lanes were closed when a GMC SUV entered the work zone and struck him. He sustained fatal injuries.

The driver fled the scene but was later identified as Anthony Bernardi, 40, of Edison, police said.

Bernardi was arrested and charged with first-degree aggravated manslaughter, second-degree vehicular homicide, and second-degree leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death.

He is being held at the Middlesex County Jail pending a detention hearing.

The crash remains under investigation.