NJ Woman Accused Of Trying To Kill Kids By Driving Into Delaware River

MOUNT HOLLY, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- A southern New Jersey woman is accused of trying to kill her three teenage children by driving into the Delaware River.

Joann Smith, 49, drove her van at full speed down a boat ramp on West Front Street in Florence and into the river Tuesday night, police and prosecutors said.

A man driving by sprang into action after hearing the children -- ages 13, 14 and 15 -- screaming.

Darnell Taylor said he jumped into the river and told one of the teens to kick out a window.

"The car was going under fast. Once the back window was kicked out the water started coming in through the window and it was filling up even more," Taylor said.

The woman and her children were pulled from the van.

Nobody was seriously injured.

Smith is now under psychiatric observation.

She has been charged with three counts of attempted murder and three counts of child endangerment.

Bail was set at $600,000.

Smith is expected to appear in Superior Court in Mount Holly on Thursday afternoon.

The children -- two boys and one girl -- are staying with relatives.

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