State police say the SUV was southbound and near Cranford when other motorists noticed flames coming from the vehicle around 6:45 p.m. Friday. The woman eventually pulled over near milemarker 134 in Woodbridge.
The woman was flown by helicopter to a hospital, where she was listed in critical but stable condition with serious burns. Details on the children and their injuries were not disclosed.
State police are still trying to determine what caused the fire.