A 19-year-old Jersey City woman was hospitalized in critical condition Wednesday after a truck driving near the car she was riding in knocked a muffler through the windshield, slitting her throat.

Joey Cortez says he was driving on Route 1 and 9 South in Kearny when a muffler crashed through the car's windshield and severely injured his daughter, Rita. Cortez says he tried to stop the bleeding with his shirt, and called police. According to Cortez, his daughter may have died without a police escort to the hospital.

Rita Cortez underwent life-saving throat surgery Tuesday afternoon. She remains in critical condition.