A 68‑year‑old driver, identified by police as Angela Arrigo of Manalapan, allegedly under the influence of alcohol, struck a mother and her two young sons outside a preschool in a terrifying crash Friday, February 13, 2026.
The collision occurred near the entrance of Bloom Academy in Freehold Township, leaving the family injured and prompting an immediate response from emergency crews.
According to local law enforcement, Arrigo was driving in the area when her vehicle accelerated into the sidewalk just as Patrice Pisani and her two boys were stepping out of the car to drop them off at school.
The force of the impact was severe enough that all three family members were taken to a nearby hospital with serious injuries. Pisani’s youngest son suffered a leg injury and burns sustained from contact with the undercarriage of the vehicle, authorities said.
Patrice was treated for back and neck injuries. The family was hospitalized, treated, and later released, and is now on the road to recovery. The extent of their injuries and the trauma of the incident have shaken the local community.
By most any measure, the crash should have been far more devastating. Witnesses and responders alike have described the outcome as nothing short of miraculous, given the speed and angle at which the vehicle struck the family. “This could have ended in tragedy,” one neighbor told reporters.
“The fact that all three are alive and recovering is nothing less than a miracle.” Authorities charged Arrigo with suspected driving while intoxicated in connection with the crash.
Prosecutors have emphasized that impaired driving isn’t a minor lapse in judgment but a dangerous choice that can destroy lives in an instant. “Every time someone chooses to get behind the wheel while impaired by alcohol or drugs, they are placing others at grave risk,” a prosecutor said in a statement Sunday. “This incident is a stark and heartbreaking reminder of the consequences of that choice.”
The incident has renewed calls from local officials and advocacy groups for stricter enforcement of DWI laws and more robust community education about the dangers of impaired driving.
“No one should have to face the fear and pain that this family endured,” said a public safety advocate. “We have to do more — together — to prevent crashes like this from happening.”
As the Pisani family continues to heal physically and emotionally, friends, classmates, and neighbors in Freehold Township have rallied around them with support, prayers, and well‑wishes. A neighborhood vigil and support fund have been organized to help with ongoing medical needs and other expenses.
