Howell Woman To Receive $2.5M From Crash Outside School: Report

HOWELL, NJ — A Howell Township woman who was seriously injured when her car was rear-ended while she dropped her daughter off at school in 2014 will receive $2.5 million in the settlement of a lawsuit over the crash, according to a report.

The New Jersey Law Journal reported Gina Peraza, 50, was injured in the June 2014 crash when her car was hit from behind as she sat in traffic.

Peraza was waiting to turn left into the parking lot of the Adelphia School when her car was hit from behind a vehicle driven by Mark Stephanick of Brick, according to an Asbury Park Press report. Stephanick, a state employee, later was charged with careless driving after police determined he was distracted by something inside his car, that report said.

Peraza's car was pushed into the path of an oncoming car, the Asbury Park Press report said. Peraza, her then-7-year-old daughter and the driver of the oncoming car were taken to the hospital.

Peraza needed four surgeries and has been unable to work since the crash, the New Jersey Law Journal report said.

Stephanick worked for the state Administrative Office of the Courts, the report said.

Read more on the settlement here.

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