3-month old baby girl in a coma following police pursuit & crash in Linden
A family of three from Linden was critically injured when their Honda Civic was hit head-on by a driver speeding to avoid police along East Linden Avenue.
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News 12 New Jersey is learning more about a two-car crash in Linden on Monday that left three family members critically injured .
Investigators with the Union County Prosecutor's Office have revealed that Darryl Petlock was being pursued by police when he crashed his Jeep Grand Cherokee head-on into the family sitting in a Honda Civic.
Police say the pursuit started in Elizabeth before ending in Linden. Petlock is charged with eluding and aggravated assault while eluding and assault by auto.
"It appears the pursuit was coming out of Elizabeth- Newark area. Not too sure exactly where it started. I just know that it was a terrible accident and unfortunately some innocent civilians were hurt," said Linden Mayor Derek Armstead.
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.
READ MORE: Family severely injured in crash following police chase in Linden
Samantha is in a coma while the mother and father have multiple broken bones.
News 12 spoke with the victim’s brother who is questioning what would appear to be a high-speed pursuit.
“This is something really bad because the police, I imagine like human beings we are shouldn’t do this. They start to pursue someone, risking the lives of any person," said Jose Rodriguez.
The crash is being reviewed by the Union County Prosecutor’s Office.
Investigators have not revealed what Darryl Petlock was wanted for.
