Family of mom killed in N.J. crash with dump truck sues drivers - nj.com

Kayla Rose Dowling, 25, of Camden County, died on Oct. 11, 2023.Facebook

The family of a young mother killed in a crash with a dump truck in Salem County has filed a lawsuit against the drivers of both the truck and the car.

Kayla Rose Dowling, 25, of Camden County, died on Oct. 11, 2023, after the car she was in collided with a dump truck at an intersection in Pittsgrove, according to a lawsuit filed March 7 in Superior Court in Camden County.

The collision occurred about 5:30 a.m. as the car headed north on Centerton Road and the red dump truck traveled west on Garden Road, police said.

“The driver of the truck went through the stop sign at a high rate of speed,” Joel Rosenberg, the attorney who filed the complaint, told NJ Advance Media.

“It was a disastrous crash,” Rosenberg said.

Dowling, a mother of a 6-year-old girl, sustained fatal injuries.

The driver of the dump truck was issued two traffic summonses, one for careless driving, the other for disregarding a stop or yield sign. He’s due in court on April 22.

No charges were filed against the woman driving the car, court records show.

The lawsuit claims both drivers were negligent. It states they displayed ‘willful and wanton disregard for the rights of other motorists.’

The lawsuit also claims Pittsgrove Township failed to fix the stop sign’s positioning, which was allegedly a contributing factor in the crash. The filing does not state how the sign could have been adjusted.

Rosenberg said additional details about both drivers, the condition of the vehicles, and the placement of the stop sign are expected to be fleshed out in upcoming depositions.

Pittsgrove Township Administrator Charles Hughes declined to comment on the lawsuit Monday, referring questions to an attorney for the town, who did not respond to a request for comment.

According to the lawsuit, Ali Al Trucking of Bridgeton owns the dump truck. The suit claims the trucking company entrusted their vehicle to a driver who was careless.

A representative of Ali Al Trucking did not immediately respond Monday to a request for comment.

A graduate of Woodbury High School, Dowling was crowned prom queen and served as a cheerleader, roles that reflected her outgoing nature and leadership among her peers, according to her obituary.

She went on to work as a teacher at Without Walls Child Care Center, where she was known for her ability to connect with children and create a joyful learning environment, the obituary said.

Later, she worked at Wawa, where her energy and warmth made her a favorite among coworkers and customers, the obituary said.

Dowling was also a devoted mother to her young daughter. Friends and family described her as the life of the party — bubbly, bold, and fearless in expressing herself.

A GoFundMe to pay for Dowling’s funeral raised nearly $18,000 before the donate feature was turned off.

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Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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