Man Was Drunk, Driving 90 MPH In Fatal Lakewood Crash: Prosecutor

LAKEWOOD, NJ — A Lakewood man was intoxicated and driving 90 miles an hour when he hit a car head-on Saturday in a Lakewood crash that killed a woman, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office said Wednesday.

Mordechai Berkowitz, 20, has been charged with aggravated manslaughter, vehicular homicide, strict liability vehicular homicide, aggravated assault, and assault by auto in the South Lake Drive crash that killed Juana Lopez-Hernandez, 44, of Mexico, Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said.

A blood draw at Jersey Shore University Medical Center found Berkowitz had a blood alcohol concentration of .215 percent; a person is presumed to be intoxicated with a BAC of .08 percent or more, Billhimer said.

In addition, the crash investigation by the Prosecutor’s Office Vehicular Homicide Unit found Berkowitz was driving in excess of 90 mph at the time of the crash. The posted speed limit on South Lake Drive is 35 mph.

About 8:20 p.m. Saturday, Berkowitz was driving a 2018 Chevrolet Impala east on South Lake Drive when he crossed over the double yellow lines and hit a 2017 Toyota RAV4 driven by Maria Flores-Moreno, 35, of Jackson, head-on as she drove west, Billhimer said.

Lopez-Hernandez, who was a passenger in Flores-Moreno's car, was taken to Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus in Lakewood, where she was pronounced dead, Billhimer said.

Flores-Moreno was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune with serious injuries and remains in stable condition, Billhimer said.

Berkowitz, who also was charged with motor vehicle offenses of driving while intoxicated, reckless driving and failure to maintain lane, was treated for minor injuries after the crash,Billhimer said.

Berkowitz turned himself in to the Ocean County Sheriff's Office on Wednesday, with his attorney present, to be formally served with the charges. He is being held at the Ocean County Jail, where he is presently lodged pending a detention hearing.

The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Vehicular Homicide Unit, Ocean County Victim Witness Advocacy Unit, Brick Township Police Department Traffic Safety Unit, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, and Ocean County Medical Examiner’s Office, combined on the investigation.