El fiscal del condado de Ocean, Bradley D.. Billhimer anunció que en abril 23, 2025, Mordechai Berkowitz, 23, de Lakewood, pled guilty before the Honorable Dina M. Vicario, J.S.C., to Vehicular Homicide and Assault by Auto in connection with a motor vehicle crash that occurred in Lakewood Township on July 22, 2022, resulting in the death of Juana Lopez-Hernandez, 44, un ciudadano de mexico, and causing serious bodily injury to Maria Flores-Moreno, 35, de jackson. En el momento de su sentencia de julio 18, 2025, el Estado buscará una pena de diez años en la Prisión Estatal de Nueva Jersey – subject to the terms of the No Early Release Act as to the Vehicular Homicide charge, and four years NJSP as to the Assault by Auto charge. Las oraciones deben ejecutarse simultáneamente..
En julio 22, 2022, aproximadamente a 8:20 pm., Officers from the Lakewood Township Police Department responded to the area of South Lake Drive and East Lake Park Drive for a report of a motor vehicle crash with serious injuries. Subsequent investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Vehicular Homicide Squad and Lakewood Township Police Department revealed that a 2018 chevrolet impala, operated by Berkowitz, was headed eastbound on South Lake Drive when it crossed over the double yellow line and collided head-on with a 2017 Toyota Rav4, operated by Ms. Flores-Moreno and occupied by front-seat passenger, EM. Lopez-Hernandez.
EM. Lopez-Hernandez was transported to Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus in Lakewood, where she was pronounced deceased as a result of the injuries she sustained in the crash. EM. Flores-Moreno was transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune for treatment of the injuries she suffered in the crash; she was treated and later released to a rehabilitation facility. EM. Flores-Moreno is currently home, still recuperating from her injuries.
Berkowitz was also transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center for treatment of injuries he experienced in the crash. Blood samples taken from Berkowitz at the hospital revealed that his Blood Alcohol Concentration (bachillerato) at the time of the collision was .157 por ciento. En el estado de Nueva Jersey, Se presume que un operador de un vehículo de motor está por encima del límite legal para fines de consumo de alcohol cuando el BAC del operador es .08 o mayor.
Further investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Vehicular Homicide Squad revealed that the vehicle operated by Berkowitz was traveling in excess of 90 millas por hora en el momento del accidente. El límite de velocidad indicado en la carretera es 35 millas por hora.
En julio 27, 2022, Berkowitz surrendered himself to the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office, with his attorney present, to be formally served with the charges. He was thereafter transported to the Ocean County Jail and subsequently released as a consequence of New Jersey Bail Reform.
Prosecutor Billhimer acknowledges the diligent efforts of Senior Assistant Prosecutor Alyssa Mandara and Assistant Prosecutor Taylor Toscano who are handling the case on behalf of the State, and commends the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Vehicular Homicide Squad, Unidad de Defensa de Víctimas y Testigos de la Fiscalía del Condado de Ocean, Departamento de policía del municipio de Lakewood, Unidad de Seguridad Vial del Departamento de Policía de Brick Township, Unidad de Investigación de la Escena del Crimen de la Oficina del Sheriff del Condado de Ocean, Fiscalía del condado de Monmouth, y la Oficina del Médico Forense del Condado de Ocean, for their combined and cooperative efforts in connection with this investigation leading to Berkowitz’s guilty pleas, y pronto su sentencia de prisión estatal.