A New Jersey mother has been charged in connection with the death of her 10-month-old son in a car accident, authorities announced Monday.
Wendy Castillo-Torres, 30, was detained following the incident on Saturday in Jackson Township, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s office said in a Facebook post.
Castillo-Torres had brought her son, who has not been publicly identified, with her while she worked cleaning cars at a friend’s garage, according to investigators. She placed the boy in a bouncer seat between two vehicles, police said.
After cleaning the cars, Castillo-Torres got into one to move it but accidentally put it in drive, moving forward and trapping her son between the two vehicles, cops said. She immediately reversed and dialed 911.
However, emergency medical personnel arrived to find the boy unresponsive in the garage, authorities said. He was transported to Monmouth Medical Center in Lakewood, where he was pronounced dead.
On-scene investigators learned Castillo-Torres did not have a driver’s license, according to prosecutors. She was charged via summons with causing death while driving without a valid license.
“Our investigation indicates that this is a tragic accident, our thoughts and prayers are with the family at this time,” Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said.
