Dad Dies Protecting Kids In Carjacking, 3 Killed In Fire: NJ Weekend

NEW JERSEY — A dad was killed in New Jersey after he tried protecting his kids during a carjacking in Mercer County. Meanwhile, three people died in a house fire over the weekend in New Jersey.

Get caught up on the news that made headlines in New Jersey this weekend:

Woman Dies After Car Hits Tree

A woman from Manchester Township died after her SUV hit a tree following a medical episode on Saturday, police said.

Salvina Tannenholz, 72, died after her blue 2020 Subaru Outback crashed into a tree on Devereux Drive near the intersection with Renaissance Boulevard about 6 p.m. Saturday, Capt. Albert Vega said.

Tannenholz was driving south on Renaissance Boulevard and left the road while negotiating a curve, Vega said. She hit a curb then continued going straight before hitting a tree at 11 Devereux Drive, he said.

Tannenholz did not appear to have her seatbelt on prior to the crash, he said. She was unconscious and not breathing when authorities arrived and first responders immediately initiated life-saving measures including CPR, and Tannenholz was taken to Community Medical Center where she was pronounced dead, Vega said.

Father Dies Protecting Children In Carjacking

A Mercer County man was killed protecting his children during a carjacking in Trenton on Friday, authorities said.

On Friday night, around 10:20 p.m., authorities received a call reporting an overturned vehicle in the area of Garfield and Farragut Avenues.

On arrival, police found a white Durango overturned. Inside they found Johny Emmanuel Cruz Rodrigez with multiple gunshot wounds, as well as two children strapped to their car seats who were unharmed, Trenton Police said.

Witnesses told police that Cruz Rodrigez was standing at the open back of the Durango when unidentified people entered the vehicle and attempted to drive away.

Cruz Rodrigez attempted to climb the rear of the vehicle when multiple gunshots were fired and the vehicle crashed a short distance away, police said.

Cruz Rodrigez was pronounced dead at the scene.

Fatal Fire Kills 3 In West Orange

A fire broke out at a Liberty Street home on Saturday, killing three people including an adult and two children, authorities said.

The West Orange Fire Department responded to a home on Liberty Street around 11 a.m. on Saturday, finding a small fire in the kitchen area and heavy smoke throughout the home, according to a statement from the Essex County Prosecutor's Office and the West Orange Fire Department.

Firefighters located three unresponsive victims, an adult and two children, and removed them from the home. First responders rendered aid, but all three were pronounced dead at the scene.

The cause and manner of death will be determined by autopsies conducted by the NJ Northern Regional Medical Examiner’s Office, authorities said.

Pedestrian Struck & Killed While Crossing Road In Mercer

A Hamilton man was killed while trying to cross the road on Saturday, police said.

Around 9:35 p.m. on Saturday, Jose Guadrou-Martinez, a resident of Hamilton was walking southbound across South Broad Street when he was struck in the area of the 2700 block, police said.

He was struck by a 2023 Honda Civic, driven by Naiquaon Ingraham, a resident of Willingboro who was traveling eastbound on South Broad Street.

Guadrou-Martinez was taken to Capital Health Regional Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries, police said.

The crash is being investigated by Officers J. Galant and B. DiBiasi of the Hamilton Township Traffic Unit. Any witnesses to this collision are asked to contact the police non-emergency number at (609)581-4000.

82-Year-Old Seriously Injured In Bicycle Crash: Report

An 82-year-old man was critically injured in a bicycle crash on Sunday morning in Jersey Shore, according to reports.

Around 10:30 a.m. Seaside Park Police responded to the intersection of South Bayview and 7th avenues for a report of a crash, where they found two male bicyclist, ages 82 and 52, NJ.com reported.

The 82-year-old man suffered serious head injuries and was taken to an area hospital where he is listed in critical condition.

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