New Jersey Teen Driver Involved in SUV Incident Injuring Six Students

A New Jersey teen driver allegedly drove an SUV into a group of minors walking on a sidewalk, injuring six students. The incident occurred around 2:11 p.m. on E Gibbsboro Road, near Lindenwold High School, as the group of high school students, aged 14 to 16, were walking when the driver, operating a silver Cadillac Escalade, swerved off the road and onto the sidewalk. Surveillance video reviewed by NJ.com showed the vehicle striking the group, propelling across the sidewalk and nearly hitting a utility pole before crashing into a metal fence. At least one student was trapped under the vehicle and was subsequently flown to a hospital for treatment. The other five students were transported to local hospitals with undisclosed injuries. Officials reported that all victims were recovering and there were no fatalities. Grocery worker Dennis Woodley, who witnessed the incident, assisted the injured students and claimed the driver attempted to flee the scene but was restrained by him and a co-worker until police arrived. The driver, a 16-year-old, was detained along with an unidentified passenger. He faces charges including one count of second-degree aggravated assault and six counts of third-degree aggravated assault, as well as one count of joyriding. He has been remanded to Camden County Juvenile Detention Center. Lindenwold school district Superintendent Kristin P. O’Neil referred to the incident as an “accident” and encouraged the community to support the recovering students and their families.