Tragic Accident in New Jersey Claims Toddler’s Life
A mother from New Jersey is facing serious allegations following the tragic death of her toddler while driving without a valid license, according to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office.
The incident took place on Saturday in Jackson Township, resulting in the death of Wendy Castilo Torres’ 10-month-old son.
Authorities were alerted to Growtown Road around 6:15 PM, where it was reported that a child had been struck by a vehicle.
When officers arrived, they discovered the boy in critical condition and unresponsive. Despite being rushed to Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus in Lakewood, he was later pronounced dead.
The investigation involves the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, Jackson Township Police Department, and the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office’s Waterwheel Murder Team.
According to the findings, Castillo Torres was cleaning a vehicle in a friend’s garage, having brought her son along. The baby was placed in a bouncer seat situated between two cars. After cleaning, rather than reversing as intended, Castillo Torres accidentally drove the car forward, trapping the child between the two vehicles.
In an urgent response, she quickly backed the car up, at which point a companion called 911, but tragically, it was too late.
Investigators confirmed that Castillo-Torres did not possess a valid driver’s license during the incident.
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Bircher expressed his condolences, stating, “Our investigation shows that this is a tragic accident and that at this point our thoughts and prayers are with the family.”
Castillo Torres has been charged and is awaiting her next court appearance in Ocean County Superior Court.
This incident follows another heartbreaking case from February 2024, where a baby girl died after her mother mistakenly placed her in an oven instead of a crib, leading to severe injuries. The responding Missouri State Police officer found the infant unresponsive at the scene.
The police described that incident as “terrifying,” noting that the baby was pronounced dead on site.
