Unlicensed driver crashes into mother and children, killing infant in New Jersey parking lot
A woman without a driver's license struck a mother pushing a stroller in a Jackson Township grocery lot, killing a nine-month-old boy and injuring the child’s sister.
Around 11:55 a.m., Maria CobonGuzman, 20, allegedly drove a Ford Fusion into a mother pushing a stroller in the parking area of NPGS, a Kosher grocery store in Jackson Township, New Jersey. The collision killed the baby boy, nine months old, and injured his five-year-old sister; the mother was also treated but is now listed as stable. Emergency crews transported the victims to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, where the infant was declared dead.
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer filed manslaughter, unlicensed-driving and two assault-by-auto charges against CobonGuzman. Ariadna Lazaro-Flores, 22, of Toms River, was charged with knowingly creating a substantial risk of death after allegedly permitting CobonGuzman to drive despite her lack of a valid license. Both women have been taken into custody and placed in Ocean County Jail while the investigation continues. Local police and the prosecutor’s office have not responded to comment requests.
Why it matters
The case highlights dangers of unlicensed driving and raises concerns about accountability for endangering public safety.
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