El fiscal del condado de Ocean, Bradley D.. Billhimer anunció que en agosto 7, 2025, Raúl Luna-Irez, 43, del banco rojo, was charged with two counts of Aggravated Manslaughter as well as two counts of Strict Liability Vehicular Homicide in connection with a motor vehicle crash that occurred in Lakewood on July 26, 2025. Luna-Perez had previously been charged with two counts of Vehicular Homicide and one count of Assault by Auto on July 27, 2025 relative to the same incident.
En julio 26, 2025, aproximadamente a 11:20 pm., Los oficiales del Departamento de Policía del Municipio de Lakewood respondieron a la intersección de Cross Street y Hearthstone Drive para un informe de un accidente automovilístico con lesiones graves. Una investigación posterior realizada por la Oficina del Fiscal del Condado de Ocean Mayor Crime Unit-Vehicular Homicide Squad, Departamento de policía del municipio de Lakewood, y la Unidad de Investigación de la Escena del Crimen de la Oficina del Sheriff del Condado de Ocean, reveló que un Dodge Durango – operated by Luna-Perez and containing a passenger – viajaba hacia el este en Cross Street cuando cruzó el carril de tráfico que se aproximaba y chocó de frente con un Nissan Sentra. The driver of the Nissan Sentra, later identified as Maria Pleitez, 42, de Lakewood, was pronounced deceased at the scene. An 11-year-old female front seat passenger was transported to Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus in Lakewood where she succumbed to her injuries. A second 11-year-old female passenger, quien estaba sentado en la parte trasera del vehículo, was likewise transported to Monmouth Medical Center, where she was treated for her injuries and subsequently released. The passenger of the Dodge Durango was transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center (JSUMC) in Neptune for treatment of minor injuries and later released.
Los primeros en responder en la escena detectaron que Luna-Pérez mostró signos de discapacidad. En desarrollo de la investigación, Luna-Pérez fue transportada a JSUMC, donde se obtuvo un sorteo de su sangre de conformidad con una orden judicial autorizada por el tribunal. Luna-Perez was initially charged with two counts of Vehicular Homicide and Assault by Auto on July 27, 2025; he was transported to the Ocean County Jail but subsequently released by the Court on strict home detention as a consequence of New Jersey Bail Reform. Luna-Perez was thereafter transferred to federal custody by way of an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer.
Preliminary results of Luna-Perez’s blood draw, recibido por la Unidad de Homicidios Vehiculares de la Oficina del Fiscal del Condado de Ocean, revealed that Luna-Perez’s Blood Alcohol Concentration (bachillerato) was at least a .19 at the time of the blood draw. Based on the dissipation of BAC over time, it is estimated that his BAC would have been approximately three times the legal limit at the time of the crash. 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. Además, further investigation has revealed that Luna-Perez was accelerating at a speed of approximately 60 millas por hora en el momento del accidente, and that he crossed over the double yellow line – passing four other vehicles prior to impacting with the Nissan.
“As a consequence of Luna-Perez’s preliminary blood draw results and our continuing investigation, the charges against Luna-Perez have been upgraded to Aggravated Manslaughter as well as Strict Liability Vehicular Homicide. Esta mañana, Agosto 7, 2025, Detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Vehicular Homicide Squad and Lakewood Township Police Department responded to the ICE detention facility in Elizabeth, New Jersey where Luna-Perez was taken into custody without incident. He was transported to the Ocean County Jail where he is currently lodged pending a detention hearing. We will seek to detain this defendant once again,”, afirmó el fiscal Billhimer..
“Thanks to the cooperation of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Luna-Perez has been returned to Ocean County to face these upgraded charges. His return sends a clear message that our federal partners share in our mission to hold those individuals that commit serious crimes accountable – regardless of their immigration status,”, concluyó el fiscal Billhimer..
El Fiscal Billhimer elogia a la Unidad de Delitos Mayores-Escuadrón de Homicidios Vehiculares de la Fiscalía del Condado de Ocean, Departamento de policía del municipio de Lakewood, Unidad de Investigación de la Escena del Crimen de la Oficina del Sheriff del Condado de Ocean, Servicio de Inmigración y Aduanas de los Estados Unidos, y la Oficina del Médico Forense del Condado de Ocean, por su asistencia colectiva en relación con esta investigación.
Los cargos mencionados anteriormente son meras acusaciones y se recuerda a la prensa y al público que todos los acusados se presumen inocentes a menos y hasta que se demuestre su culpabilidad más allá de toda duda razonable en un tribunal de justicia..
RPC. 3.6(b)(6).