Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that on January 30, 2026, Edwin Ramirez-Carranza, 21, of Lakewood, was sentenced by the Honorable David M. Fritch, J.S.C., to five years New Jersey State Prison (NJSP) relative to his previously entered guilty plea to Eluding in connection with an incident that occurred in Lakehurst on October 8, 2024. Judge Fritch also imposed a six-month loss of Ramirez-Carranza’s driving privileges with respect to the subject Eluding offense. Additionally, Judge Fritch sentenced Ramirez-Carranza to five years NJSP relative to his previously entered guilty plea to Aggravated Assault in connection with a motor vehicle crash that occurred in Lakewood Township on April 19, 2025. The sentence as to the Aggravated Assault charge will be subject to the terms of the No Early Release Act (NERA), meaning that Ramirez-Carranza will be required to serve at least 85 percent of his prison sentence before he may be considered for parole eligibility. The sentences as to both offenses will run concurrently. Ramirez-Carranza pled guilty to both charges before Judge Fritch on December 1, 2025. Finally, at the time of his sentencing, Ramirez-Carranza – who was 20 years-old when he eluded police on October 8, 2024 – pled guilty to Underage Driving While Intoxicated; as a consequence, Judge Fritch suspended Ramirez-Carranza’s driving privileges for a term of 30 days.
On October 8, 2024, Officers from the Lakehurst Borough Police Department observed a three-car motor vehicle crash on Route 70. All three vehicles attempted to flee the scene. Officers attempted to effectuate a motor vehicle stop on a Chevrolet Silverado operated by Ramirez-Carranza. Ramirez-Carranza ignored the signals from the Officers to stop his vehicle and eluded the Officers. Ramirez-Carranza was ultimately forced to bring his vehicle to a stop in the flow of traffic when it became disabled. Officers encountered Ramirez-Carranza and observed him exhibiting signs of intoxication. As a result, Officers attempted to administer the standardized field sobriety tests (FSTs) to Ramirez-Carranza. Ramirez-Carranza was unable to successfully perform the FSTs, and subsequent breath testing revealed a Blood Alcohol Content above the legal limit for an underage driver; as such, he was additionally charged with Driving Under the Influence. Ramirez-Carranza was taken into custody, transported to the Ocean County Jail, and subsequently released as a consequence of New Jersey Bail Reform.
On April 19, 2025, at approximately 12:10 a.m., Officers from the Lakewood Township Police Department responded to the intersection of New Hampshire Avenue and Cedar Bridge Avenue for a report of a motor vehicle crash with serious injuries. Responding Officers observed a Honda Civic in the roadway and a Chevy Silverado in a drainage basin off of the roadway. Both vehicles were occupied solely by their respective drivers. An investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Vehicular Homicide Squad and Lakewood Township Police Department revealed that the Chevy Silverado – operated by Ramirez-Carranza – was traveling northbound on New Hampshire Avenue when it disregarded a red traffic signal and struck the Honda Civic which was traveling eastbound on Cedar Bridge Avenue. Continuing investigation revealed that the Honda Civic was being operated by an off-duty Lakewood Township Police Officer who had just ended his shift. The driver of the Honda Civic was transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center (JSUMC) in Neptune for treatment of serious injuries; he was ultimately released following treatment. Continuing investigation revealed that the Chevy Silverado was traveling at approximately 106 miles-per-hour just seconds before the crash.
Ramirez-Carranza was likewise transported to JSUMC for treatment of his injuries. Ramirez-Carranzo was charged with Aggravated Assault and issued numerous motor vehicle summonses related to the crash. On April 20, 2025, Ramirez-Carranza was released from JSUMC; he was transported to the Ocean County Jail, where he has been lodged since that date.
Prosecutor Billhimer acknowledges the diligent efforts of Senior Assistant Prosecutor Stephen Burke who handled both cases on behalf of the State, and commends the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Vehicular Homicide Squad, Borough of Lakehurst Police Department, Lakewood Township Police Department, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, for their collaborative efforts in connection with this investigation leading to Ramirez-Carranza’s arrest, guilty pleas, and now his state prison sentence.