Union Township, NJ (June 27, 2026) – On Friday, June 26, a 66-year-old woman was killed after a wrong-way driver fleeing the scene of multiple hit-and-runs collided head-on with her vehicle in Union Township.
A Dodge Charger driven by a 71-year-old Union resident first struck multiple vehicles between a shopping center and a gas station before continuing toward an intersection, where the Charger collided head-on with the woman’s Toyota Prius while traveling the wrong way at high speed. She was taken to University Hospital, where she later died from her injuries.
Local authorities continue with their investigation.
Our sincere condolences to the woman’s family and all those who loved her.
What Legal Options Exist After a Wrong-Way Crash Caused by a Driver Fleeing a Hit-and-Run in New Jersey?
When a wrong-way driver fleeing the scene of a hit-and-run causes a fatal collision, significant legal options are generally available under New Jersey law, as the chain of events leading up to such a crash often establishes a clear pattern of reckless and negligent conduct.
Eligible surviving family members, including a spouse, children, and parents, may bring a wrongful death claim when a loved one is killed due to another party’s negligent or reckless conduct.
Incidents involving a sequence of multiple collisions across different locations, all caused by the same driver attempting to flee an earlier crash, can be especially important from a legal standpoint. This pattern of conduct, including fleeing from one collision only to cause a second, more severe one, can serve as strong evidence supporting a wrongful death or personal injury claim, as it demonstrates not just a single moment of negligence but a sustained course of reckless behavior.
A driver’s decision to continue fleeing after an initial collision, rather than stopping, may also be relevant to any criminal charges filed, which can further support a related civil claim depending on how that case develops.
When multiple vehicles and drivers are affected by the same chain of events, each affected party’s claim generally needs to be evaluated independently based on their own specific injuries and losses.
Those affected may be able to seek compensation for medical expenses, lost income, property damage, and, in the event of a fatality, funeral and burial costs, as well as the loss of companionship and support. A personal injury attorney may be able to assist in gathering evidence from a multi-incident chain of events such as this one, identifying all applicable insurance coverage, and ensuring that any settlement reached reflects the full extent of the harm caused.
At the Law Offices of Sander Budanitsky, we have extensive experience handling serious injury and wrongful death cases across Union County.
If you were affected by a crash in New Jersey, contact our personal injury lawyers at (908) 241-3445. We can review your situation and explain what legal options may be available.
Note: This post has been prepared using publicly available secondary sources. The facts surrounding the incident have not been independently confirmed. If you believe any portion of this report contains inaccurate or outdated information, please contact The Law Offices of Sander Budanitsky, L.L.C., so we can promptly review and update the content to ensure accuracy and reliability.
Disclaimer: The information presented in this post is intended for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal or medical advice. Reading this post does not create an attorney-client relationship, nor does it constitute a request for legal representation. If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, please seek immediate medical care.
Any images included in this post are for illustrative purposes only and do not depict the actual accident scene.
