Police have identified the 7-year-old girl who was struck and killed in Essex on Thursday.

Authorities are continuing their investigation into the fatal crash that involved a second grade student at Sandalwood Elementary School.

The girl has been identified as NaTasha Newman of the 1000-block of Punjab Drive (21221).

Police were dispatched to the driveway of a townhome community across from the school at just before 3:30 p.m. on Thursday when the girl was struck by a white work van.

Detectives have determined that Natasha was running down the sidewalk after a group of children when she darted out in front of the van as it began to exit the townhome community onto South Marlyn Avenue.

The first officer arrived on the scene at 3:28 p.m. and immediately began administering CPR on the 7-year-old child, who was then rushed to Franklin Square Hospital.

She was later pronounced dead. The driver remained at the scene.

The investigating continues at this hour.