JACKSON TOWNSHIP, N.J. — A routine trip to a grocery store turned into a devastating tragedy Friday when a mother walking through a parking lot with her two children was struck by a car, leaving her 9-month-old son dead.
Jackson Township police were called to an NPGS grocery store shortly before 12 p.m. on August 28 after receiving reports of a crash involving pedestrians.
When officers arrived, they found a mother and her two children — a 5-year-old girl and a 9-month-old boy — had been hit by a Ford Fusion in the parking lot.
Emergency crews rushed the family to an area hospital. Despite efforts to save him, the infant was pronounced dead.
The mother and her 5-year-old daughter survived the crash and remained hospitalized in stable condition, according to authorities.
The incident has now resulted in criminal charges against two women as investigators work to determine exactly how the fatal collision occurred.
Driver Allegedly Never Had a Valid License
According to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, investigators learned that the driver of the Ford Fusion, 20-year-old Maria CobonGuzman, allegedly did not have a valid driver’s license.
Prosecutors said CobonGuzman had “never possessed” a valid driver’s license in New Jersey or in any other state.
The allegation has become a central part of the investigation because the vehicle was being operated in a public parking lot when it struck the family.
CobonGuzman, who is from Trenton, New Jersey, was arrested following the crash and transported to the Ocean County Jail.
She now faces several serious charges, including manslaughter, operating a motor vehicle without ever having possessed a valid driver’s license while involved in a fatal motor vehicle crash, and two counts of assault by auto.
The charges are allegations, and the case remains ongoing.
Second Woman Accused of Allowing Driver to Operate Car
Investigators also arrested 22-year-old Ariadna Lazaro-Flores, of Toms River, New Jersey.
According to prosecutors, the investigation allegedly found that Lazaro-Flores knew CobonGuzman did not have a valid driver’s license but nevertheless allowed her to drive the vehicle.
The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office said Lazaro-Flores has been charged with knowingly engaging in conduct creating a substantial risk of death to another.
Both women were taken into custody and transported to the Ocean County Jail, where they are being held pending a hearing.
Authorities have not indicated that either woman has been convicted of the charges. The allegations will be addressed through the legal process.
Investigators Continue Examining Deadly Collision
The circumstances surrounding the crash remain under investigation.
The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office said its vehicular homicide squad and high-tech crime squad are involved in the investigation alongside the Jackson Township Police Department.
The Lakewood Township Police Department and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office crime scene investigation unit are also assisting.
Investigators are expected to examine the crash scene and available evidence to establish how the vehicle struck the mother and her children and what happened immediately before the collision.
The investigation will also continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the driver’s alleged lack of a license and the decision to allow her to operate the Ford Fusion.
Family Left Grieving After Infant’s Death
The death of the 9-month-old has transformed what should have been an ordinary family outing into a devastating loss.
The infant was still only nine months old when the crash occurred, while his mother and older sister are now recovering from their injuries.
Authorities have not released additional details about the family’s identities or the extent of the mother’s and daughter’s injuries beyond confirming that they remain in stable condition.
As the investigation continues, prosecutors and police are working to establish the full chain of events that led to the fatal collision.
For the family, however, the consequences are already irreversible. A young child lost his life after a vehicle struck the family in a grocery store parking lot, while his mother and sister remain hospitalized.
What do you think about the allegations in this case? Share your thoughts in the comments and stay tuned for further updates as investigators continue their work.
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