In New Jersey, a high-speed police chase of a stolen car ended with the death of a 10-year-old girl and her critically injured 14-year-old brother. The driver of the stolen car, Harold Saenz, is a 22 year-old male that is being charged with first-degree murder, second-degree aggravated assault and third-degree theft and third-degree burglary.
Witnesses say the children riding in the back seat of the silver Honda Accord did not have a chance when the stolen Mercedes slammed into the back of them. The Honda Accord was ripped apart and the children were ejected from the Accord.
According to the National Center for Statistics and Analysis (NCSA), the leading cause of death for children between the ages of 2 – 14 years of age is motor vehicle accidents (http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/810803.PDF). Motor vehicle accidents are also the leading cause of acquired disability in children. Children make up approximately 5% of the accident fatalities. Approximately 6 children are killed and 700 children are injured every day in car crashes. Nearly 21% of children that are killed in car accidents die from drivers that are operating vehicles while over the legal blood alcohol level.
