Crash That Left Infant In Coma, Parents Injured Union County Draws State Investigation

LINDEN, NJ — The New Jersey Attorney General’s Office is investigating a multi-vehicle crash that left an infant and three adults hospitalized on Monday.

Relatives of the victim say the mother, Gabby Guzman, 3-month-old Samantha and dad, Jose Majano Rodriguez, are at University Hospital, being treated for critical injuries.

There is speculation that a police chase was involved prior to the crash.

Neighbors reportedly told NBC New York that they heard sirens before the crash and there was a police chase of the Jeep.

When asked if a police chase was involved in the crash, the UCPO spokesperson Lauren Farinas told Patch, "The circumstances surrounding the crash remain under investigation. At this time, our office has no additional information to release."

The Union County Prosecutor’s Office and the state Division of Criminal Justice are investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash.

"The investigation is ongoing, and no further information is available at this time," according to the Attorney General's Office.

At around 2:45 p.m. on Monday, Linden Police Officers were notified of a Jeep Grand Cherokee speeding on East Linden Avenue, according to a preliminary investigation.

Linden Officers reportedly saw the Jeep speeding into oncoming traffic to try to drive around a pickup truck.

The Jeep then crashed head-on with a Honda Civic with a 33-year-old woman, a 29-year-old man, and a 3-month-old baby inside, said Union County Prosecutor William A. Daniel and Linden Police Chief David Hart.

Relatives identified the mother as Gabby Guzman; 3-month-old Samantha and dad, Jose Majano Rodriguez, according to News 12.

"Samantha is in a coma while the mother and father have multiple broken bones," according to News 12.

The passengers of the Honda Civic were taken to a local area hospital with critical injuries.

The driver of the Jeep, Darryl Petlock, 48, of Keansburg,was taken into custody and taken to a local area hospital.

Petlock was charged with two counts of second-degree eluding, five counts of second-degree aggravated assault while eluding, and three counts of fourth-degree assault by auto, said Daniel.

Anyone with information should contact Union County Prosecutor’s Office Special Prosecutions Unit Detective Grace Proetta at 908-358-7932 or Sergeant Craig Famoso at 908-578-1036.

The Attorney General’s Office also cited a 2019 law, N.J.S.A. 52:17B-107(a)(2), that requires the office to investigate a person’s death that occurs during an encounter with a law enforcement officer acting in an official capacity or while the decedent is in custody.

It also requires those investigations to be presented to a grand jury to determine whether the evidence supports an indictment against an officer or officers involved.

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