Crash Kills Man Moments After Son Is Born in Car

• Published in: The New York times
• Main Authors: RICHARD LEZIN JONES and MATTHEW C. McCUE, Richard Lezin Jones reported for this article from Newark and Matthew C. McCue from Brick Township, Lakewood and Neptune. Yaniv Gafner contributed reporting from Newark
• Format: Newspaper Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, N.Y New York Times Company 16.04.2004
• Edition: Late Edition (East Coast)
• Subjects: Births; Fatalities; Sasoon, Binyamin; Traffic accidents & safety; Brick Township New Jersey
• ISSN: 0362-4331

The police said that moments after the birth, Mr. Sasoon lost control of his car. It veered into a utility pole, killing him instantly. The force of the crash threw Ms. Sasoon from the car onto the side of Route 88 in Brick Township, N.J., the police said. Her newborn remained in the car, struggling to breathe, his umbilical cord severed by the impact. The couple, both 22, were about a mile from the hospital when Ms. Sasoon gave birth in the back seat, the police said. Moments later -- the police theorize that Mr. Sasoon may have turned to help his wife -- the car spun out of control in the rain on what the authorities said was a slick roadway and hit the pole. He then gave the child to his mother and turned to help Mr. Sasoon, who was lying diagonally across the front seats. Mr. [Patrick Schlagenhaft] said that he checked Mr. Sasoon's vital signs and that a few moments later paramedics, who had begun arriving on the scene, confirmed what he feared. Mr. Sasoon was pronounced dead at the scene.