A terrifying incident unfolded on January 7, 2026, when Hernando Garciamorales, 40, allegedly threw a baseball-sized rock through the window of a school bus on the northbound New Jersey Turnpike near Teaneck Township. The rock struck an 8-year-old girl, fracturing her skull and sending her to Hackensack University Medical Center for emergency treatment.
According to CBS News, the bus was carrying students from Yeshivat Noam, a local Jewish day school, returning from a field trip. Fortunately, no other children were seriously injured, but the shocking attack has left the community shaken.
Authorities say Garciamorales has a history of rock-throwing incidents in Bergen County, including Bogota. He was arrested at a makeshift campsite in Old Croaker County Park and faces multiple charges, including aggravated assault, child endangerment, and criminal mischief.
The young girl has since been released from the hospital and is recovering at home. Local officials continue to investigate, though they have not labeled the attack as a hate crime.
