A pregnant South Jersey woman who was run over last week by a raging gang member as her horrified husband watched has died of her injuries, police said. Rosa Maguire, 27, was severely brain injured when she was struck Aug. 1 by an SUV driven by an alleged member of the Bloods gang. The Cumberland County woman, who was three months pregnant, died last night in Atlantic City at AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, authorities said.
It appears her unborn baby also died.
“It looks like the child was a victim, as well,” said Capt. Al Della Fave, spokesman for the New Jersey State Police. A spokesman for the hospital did not return calls this morning.
Jack Yator, 22, of Port Norris, was charged with one count of murder and other offenses this morning by Cumberland County Prosecutor Ronald J. Casella. Other charges may still be filed.
The road rage attack began about 1 a.m. on Aug. 1. Michael Maguire, a chef in Atlantic City, was returning home to the couple’s Commercial Township home, said a spokesman for the Maguire family.
As Maguire drove his sedan down Doris Drive, he almost hit Yator’s 2001 Ford Explorer as it was pulling out of a driveway, Della Fave said.
Yator, who had been released from jail the day before, sped after Maguire. Yator tailgated the sedan all the way to Maguire’s house in Laurel Lake, Della Fave said. Maguire pulled into the driveway.
Yator backed the SUV into the driveway, and spinning his tires, sprayed Maguire’s car with gravel and debris. Then Yator sped off down a dead-end street, Della Fave said.
Drawn by the commotion, Rosa Maguire got into her husband’s car and the couple followed Yator down narrow Sandlewood Road. The Maguires blocked the SUV’s escape with their car, Della Fave said.
Rosa Maguire stood between the sedan and a tree. Yator gunned the engine. He drove the SUV over her, Della Fave said.
Millville police captured Yator after chasing the SUV, then Yator, on foot, Della Fave said.
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