FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Caitlin Mota
PHONE: (201) 577-6699
EMAIL: cmota@hcpo.org
DATE: Wednesday, October 18, 2023
DRIVER CHARGED IN MULTI-FATAL COLLISION ON PATERSON PLANK ROAD
Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez has released the following information:
On Wednesday, October 18, 2023, members of the Hudson County Regional Collision Investigation Unit arrested a 23-year-old man in connection with a multi-fatal collision on Paterson Plank Road in Jersey City.
Ziyang Wang, of Jersey City, is charged with three counts of Reckless Manslaughter in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:11-4b, crimes of the second degree; three counts of Death by Auto in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:11-5, crimes of the second degree; and one count of Assault by Auto in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1c, a crime of the fourth degree. Wang was arrested at Jersey City Medical Center, where he will remain in custody until medically cleared.
On Monday, October 16, 2023, at approximately 12:45 a.m., the Jersey City Police Department was notified of a two-car collision on Paterson Plank Road, south of Congress Street. Responding officers located a BMW X5 M50i that appeared to have crashed head-on with a Kia Amanti. The driver of the Kia – identified as Dylan Weidenfeld, 26, of Jersey City – was pronounced dead at the scene.
The BMW was occupied by five individuals. Wang was identified as the driver of the BMW. A female backseat passenger was pronounced dead at the scene. A male backseat passenger was transported to Jersey City Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. Their identities are being withheld pending next of kin notifications. A third backseat passenger, a 19-year-old female, remains in critical condition at Jersey City Medical Center. A front seat female passenger suffered injuries that are not considered to be life-threatening at this time.
Data recovered during the preliminary investigation found Wang was operating the vehicle in excess of 100 miles per hour in the seconds leading up to the collision.
The Hudson County Regional Collision Investigation Unit is actively investigating this matter with assistance from the Jersey City Police Department. The above charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. R.P.C.3.6(b)(6).