Man’s reckless driving killed 1-year-old girl in 5-car crash, cops say

A Pennsylvania man has been charged in connection with a motor vehicle crash that killed a 1-year-old child and injured several other people in Winslow, NJ, authorities in Camden County said Monday.

Camden County Prosecutor Mary Eva Colalillo and Winslow Police Chief Robert Stimelski released a statement Monday announcing that Anders Opitz, 19, of Phoenixville, Pa., has been charged with one count of death by auto and four counts of assault by auto.

According to authorities, the crash took place on June 29, 2015 on Route 73 near Hays Mill Road in Winslow around 6:30 a.m.

"Opitz was driving a 2003 Ford F-250 northbound on Route 73 when he sideswiped a northbound 2007 Chevy Van operated by a 60-year-old Berlin man. Optiz’s truck next struck a northbound 2014 Mini Cooper operated by a 64-year-old Landisville man," the prosecutor said in the press release. "Opitz’s truck then crashed into the rear of a 2006 Honda Accord operated by a 39-year-old Port Norris man. The collision pushed the Honda into a 2008 Nissan Rogue, operated by a 54-year-old Hammonton man, which was stopped in traffic. The Nissan Rogue was subsequently pushed into a Nissan Versa operated by a 23-year-old Hammonton woman."

Police say the impact involving the Honda Accord resulted in injuries to the driver's 19-month-old daughter. The child was airlifted to Cooper University Hospital, where she died of her injuries.

Opitz and four other people, including the girl’s 28-year-old mother and the drivers of the Mini Cooper and both Nissans, were also injured. They were all taken to local hospitals where they were treated and later released.

The prosecutor said an investigation showed that Opitz was driving recklessly when the crash occurred. He was charged on Friday and later released after posting $100,000 bail.

Toniann Antonelli is the digital managing editor for news at NJ 101.5. Reach her at toniann.antonelli@townsquaremedia.com, or on Twitter @ToniRadio1015.