A Piscataway man was speeding when he lost control of his car, hit two poles, a concrete planter and then a 6-year-old boy and his mother, killing the child, in Highland Park, a prosecutor told a judge. Watch video
NEW BRUNSWICK -- A Piscataway man was speeding in Highland Park when he lost control of his car, hit two poles, a concrete planter and then a 6-year-old boy and his mother, killing the child, a prosecutor told a judge Tuesday morning.
Middlesex County Assistant Prosecutor Bina Desai told Superior Court Judge Dennis Nieves Shang Zhen Huang, 21, of Piscataway "came out of a parking lot and put the pedal down so hard to cut off traffic on Raritan Avenue that in less than five seconds he was up to 37 miles an hour."
Desai made the remarks during Huang's first court appearance on charges of death by auto and aggravated assault stemming from the accident on Jan. 16, 2016 that killed Chaim Kraus and critically injured his 37-year-old mother, Rachel.
The two were walking home from synagogue at 3:10 p.m. on the sidewalk along Raritan Avenue, also known as Route 27, when they were struck, according to authorities.
Desai said the speed calculation was made from a review of evidence, including three surveillance videos of the accident that occurred near the Columbia Street intersection.
Huang's attorney, Joseph Benedict, told the judge earlier that Huang had been at a restaurant having lunch with fellow classmates at Rutgers University where Huang is majoring in statistics.
Family and friends of the victims packed two rows of courtroom in New Brunswick and quietly watched the proceedings, glancing at Huang who sat, handcuffed, in the jury box in front of them.
Benedict entered a not guilty plea for Huang to the charges of death by auto and aggravated assault.
Desai said Huang "struck the curb, hit a pole, hit another pole, hit a concrete planter and then hit the family before making any effort to swerve away."
The boy and his mother were rushed to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, but the child died. The mother, who suffered multiple internal injuries, is still in critical condition, Desai said.
None of the family members or friends present for the court proceedings Tuesday wanted to comment Tuesday.
Huang has been held in the Middlesex County jail since his arrest the day of the accident in lieu of $200,000 bail.
Benedict called the accident a "tragic event" and said the Huang family "expressed sincere regret" to the victims and their family for their losses.
Benedict asked the judge Tuesday morning to lower the bail to $100,000 so that Huang, a Chinese national in the United States on a visa to study, can be released, but Nieves put the decision off.
Sue Epstein may be reached at sepstein@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @susan_epstein. Find NJ.com on Facebook.