JERSEY CITY - A member of the Honey Bees double Dutch team was fatally struck by a vehicle at one of Downtown's busiest intersections on Saturday.

While authorities have only confirmed a child about 8 years old was struck near Christopher Columbus Drive and Grove Street at about 4:30 p.m., he has been identified as Jerry "Prince Bee" Grant.

Honey Bees founder Takeria Clark told The Jersey Journal the troupe was in Downtown Jersey City raising money for uniforms and for fees for a show at The Apollo and other tournaments.

"We all stopped at the corner and Jerry heard 'go' from another jumper and ran in the street," Clark said. "The car was going so fast. It hit him so hard."

Sources told The Jersey Journal that Jerry died at the hospital a short time after the crash.

Witnesses said Jerry was walking with a group of mostly girls wearing black and yellow, the group's signature ensemble.

Jerry was among a group of the Honey Bees to appear on "The Tonight Show" in August when the team showed off their moves following its national championship win.

The boy's death comes 10 days after two Dickinson High School students were fatally struck in a hit-and-run in the Heights.

The intersection of Grove Street and Columbus Drive is just west of the Grove Street PATH station and one block from the bustling Newark Avenue pedestrian plaza.

Paul Ferreira was working at a nearby store when he heard commotion. Ferreira walked out by Columbus Drive and saw Jerry lying in the middle of the intersection.

A grandfather of a 7-year-old girl, Ferreira said he was shaken up by the crash.

"It's sad," he said.

The driver drove about 100 feet west on Columbus Drive before stopping. Ferreira said the driver didn't realize he had hit someone.

Officials are not classifying the crash as a hit-and-run and said the driver is cooperating with the investigation. About an hour after the crash, the driver could be seen still sitting in his car.

Another witness, who only identified himself as Moe, said he recognized the group as the Honey Bees immediately after the crash.

"The child was just laying there, kind of lifeless," he said.

Additional information was not immediately available.

This crash marks ninth person to be killed on Hudson County roads since Sept. 1.

Pedestrians have complained for years about the intersection of Grove Street and Columbus Drive. City officials in recent years have re-timed when pedestrians are permitted to cross Columbus Drive to make the intersection safer.

Jerry "Prince Bee" Grant

Caitlin Mota may be reached at cmota@jjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter @caitlin_mota. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook.