MANTUA TOWNSHIP, New Jersey — A routine traffic stop turned deadly late Sunday night after a woman jumped into the driver’s seat and fled police — with a 5-year-old child buckled in the back.
The incident began just before midnight on Route 55 in Mantua Township.
A police officer had already pulled over a vehicle and was standing outside talking to the driver. Holly Hageman, 41, was sitting in the backseat at the time.
What Happened Next
Officers ordered Hageman to exit the vehicle.
She did not comply.
Instead, she climbed into the front seat, took the wheel, and sped away at a high rate of speed — with the 5-year-old still in the car.
Police attempted to stop her but were unable to catch up.
About three miles from the original traffic stop, Hageman lost control and crashed into a tree. She suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Child and the Investigation
The 5-year-old was injured in the crash but is expected to make a full recovery, according to the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office.
The original driver, who had been pulled over by police, was taken to the Mantua Township Police Department.
The crash remains under active investigation. Authorities have not yet released details about why Hageman was in the vehicle or what prompted her to flee.
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