Crime & Safety

Driver of Vehicle that Killed Rabbi Had Mental Health Issues, Propane Tank in His Car

Eric Maltz, 20, has a history of mental health issues and reportedly tried to harm himself with a knife in 2012, according to police records.

 

Eric Maltz was driving with a propane tank in his vehicle when he struck and killed one rabbi and seriously injured another on Riverside Drive last week, sources confirm.

The 20-year-old resident of Braeburn Drive in Princeton was seriously injured after his BMW careened down Riverside Drive on Thursday morning without braking, crossed to the other side of the road and struck two parked cars. 

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It's unclear if the propane tank was empty or full, but it raises questions about whether Maltz possibly intended to hurt himself in the accident. Police said Maltz was driving very fast and did not appear to brake before the crash. The speed limit on the street, which is in a school zone, is 25 mph. 

Rabbi James Diamond of Princeton, the former director of Princeton University's Center of Jewish Life, was getting into a parked Toyota Prius at the time of the crash, was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident, which occurred around 9:40 a.m. 

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Maltz, who was taken to Capital Health Regional Medical Center, was later released to a mental health facility.

According to records obtained through an OPRA request, Princeton Police has a history with Maltz, dating back to when he was juvenile and as recently as March 21, 2013. 

Through the OPRA request, Princeton Police Captain Nick Sutter said Maltz was involved in some incidents with the Princeton Township Police Department, but because they occurred when Maltz was a juvenile, they can not be released. 

On March 21, Princeton Police responded to the Maltz home on Braeburn Drive shortly before noon after Gary Maltz, 56, reported that his son was acting out and throwing things around the house. 

Police spoke with Eric Maltz, who told them he became frustrated and began trashing his room, although he did not say what upset him. Gary Maltz told police the incident began after he asked his son about his marijuana use. An argument ensued, but Gary Maltz eventually left the room. 

Eric Maltz told police he takes Lamictal as a mood stabilizer and Zoloft for depression. Gary Maltz said his son had not hurt him, and he did not want to pursue the incident, although he did request that Eric be taken to the University Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro for mental health treatment. 

One week later, Eric Maltz was driving a 2003 green BMW sedan south on Riverside Drive (away from Route 27) when it crossed into the southbound lane and struck a parked Toyota Camry, pushing it into a parked Toyota Prius parked behind it, police said. The BMW pushed both cars about 500 feet, and the Prius ended up even further away, across the street and onto private property.

Eric Maltz was taken to Capital Health Regional Medical Center. Rabbi Robert Freedman, 63, of Princeton, who was in the Prius, was also taken to the trauma center. Freedman has since been released.

Freedman is a former cantor at the Jewish Center of Princeton. He and Diamond were reportedly leaving a weekly Talmud study group when the accident occurred.

Maltz was charged with one count of death by auto and one count of assault by auto. 

The crash remains under investigation by Princeton Police with the assistance of the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office. 


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