By: Richard L. Smith
On Wednesday, October 18, Hudson County Regional Collision Investigation Unit members arrested 23-year-old Mr. Ziyang Wang of Jersey City in connection with a tragic multi-fatal collision on Paterson Plank Road.
The incident, which transpired on Monday, October 16, at around 12:45 a.m., involved a two-car collision on Paterson Plank Road, just south of Congress Street.
Responding officers found a BMW X5 M50i had collided head-on with a Kia Amanti. Tragically, the driver of the Kia, 26-year-old Dylan Weidenfeld of Jersey City, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Hudson County officials said the BMW had five occupants, with Wang identified as the driver.
One female backseat passenger was pronounced dead at the scene, while a male backseat passenger succumbed to his injuries after being transported to Jersey City Medical Center.
Their identities are being withheld until their next of kin can be notified.
A third backseat passenger, a 19-year-old female, remains in critical condition, and a front-seat female passenger sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
Data recovered during the preliminary investigation revealed that Wang had been driving the vehicle at speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour in the moments leading up to the collision.
Hudson County official said Wang now faces serious charges, including three counts of Reckless Manslaughter, three counts of Death by Auto, and one count of Assault by Auto. He was taken into custody at Jersey City Medical Center, where he will remain until medically cleared.
The Hudson County Regional Collision Investigation Unit continues to actively investigate this tragic incident with assistance from the Jersey City Police Department.
It is important to note that the charges against Wang are accusations, and he is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
