Unlicensed driver kills infant in NJ grocery parking lot; two women charged
A 9-month-old boy died after a 20-year-old woman with no driver's license struck a mother and her children in a grocery store parking lot in Jackson, New Jersey, on August 28. The driver, Maria CobonGuzman, and a 22-year-old woman, Ariadna Lazaro-Flores, who allegedly allowed her to drive, have been charged. The mother and 5-year-old daughter are hospitalized in stable condition.
Key points
- Maria CobonGuzman, 20, was driving a Ford Fusion when she hit a mother pushing a stroller in the NPGS grocery store parking lot in Jackson Township at approximately 11:55 a.m. on August 28, 2026.
- The 9-month-old boy was pronounced dead at Jersey Shore University Medical Center; the mother and her 5-year-old daughter are in stable condition.
- CobonGuzman faces charges of manslaughter, operating a vehicle without a valid license, and two counts of assault by auto.
- Ariadna Lazaro-Flores, 22, was charged with knowingly engaging in conduct creating a substantial risk of death for allowing CobonGuzman to drive despite knowing she had never held a license in any state.
- Both women were taken into custody and are being held at the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing.
Background
This incident follows a pattern of fatal traffic accidents involving unlicensed or reckless drivers in New Jersey, as noted in our archive. The crash occurred at a kosher grocery store, NPGS, in Jackson Township. The investigation involves multiple agencies, including the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office and local police departments.
How outlets are covering it
All four sources (New York Post, Asbury Park Press, Patch, and NBC10 Philadelphia) report the core facts consistently: the victim's age, the driver's lack of a license, and the charges against both women. The New York Post and Patch emphasize the driver's complete lack of licensure in any state. The Asbury Park Press and NBC10 highlight the involvement of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit. There is no significant disagreement among the outlets, but the New York Post provides the most detailed breakdown of the specific charges against CobonGuzman.
Why it matters
This case highlights the severe risks posed by unlicensed drivers and the legal consequences for those who enable such behavior. It underscores the importance of strict enforcement of driver licensing laws and the potential for fatal outcomes in pedestrian-heavy areas like grocery store parking lots.
What to watch
The investigation into the crash is ongoing. CobonGuzman and Lazaro-Flores are awaiting a detention hearing. The mother and 5-year-old daughter are expected to recover from their injuries, while the family of the deceased infant mourns the loss.
- Baby boy killed after driver who never had a license hits mom and kids in NJ grocery store parking lot New York Post
- Nine-month-old dies after being struck by car in a Jackson parking lot Asbury Park Press
- Unlicensed Driver Hits Family, Killing Infant In Jackson, Prosecutor Says Patch
- Baby Killed After Driver, Who Was Allegedly Unlicensed, Struck Mother Pushing Stroller People.com
- Baby dies after unlicensed driver hits mom in NJ parking lot: Officials NBC10 Philadelphia
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