LAKEWOOD, NJ – The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office has charged a Lakewood man with aggravated manslaughter and driving while intoxicated as he sped down South Lake Drive shortly after sunset on Friday night.
Police said Mordechai Berkowitz, 20, was racing along the winding residential street at 90 miles per hour, in a 35 miles per hour zone. Prosecutors said Berkowitz’s speed and impairedness led to the untimely death of Juana Lopez-Hernandez, 44, of Jackson Township. Lopez was killed when Berkowitz’s car collided with hers as he cross the double yellow line at an extreme high rate of speed.
Related: Lakewood Style Digital Billboards Coming to Jackson?
According to police reports, on Friday at around 8:20 p.m., 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.
“A subsequent investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Vehicular Homicide Unit and Lakewood Township Police Department determined that a 2018 Chevrolet Impala – operated by Berkowitz – was headed eastbound on South Lake Drive when it crossed over the double yellow and collided head-on with a 2017 Toyota Rav4, operated by Maria Flores-Moreno, 35, of Jackson, and occupied by front-seat passenger, Ms. Lopez-Hernandez,” police reported. “Ms. Flores-Moreno was transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune for treatment of the injuries she suffered in the crash, and is presently listed in stable condition. Ms. Lopez-Hernandez was transported to Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus in Lakewood, where she was pronounced deceased.”
Berkowitz was also transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center for treatment of injuries he sustained in the crash.
Related: After Making Nice, Jackson Mayor Reina Gets 5-Year Six-Figure County Contract
“The initial draw of his blood at the hospital revealed that Berkowitz had a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of .215 %. In the State of New Jersey, an operator of a motor vehicle is presumed to be over the legal limit for purposes of alcohol consumption where his/her BAC is .08 or greater,” Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said. “Further investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Vehicular Homicide Unit revealed that the vehicle operated by Berkowitz was traveling in excess of 90 miles-per-hour at the time of the crash. The posted speed limit on the roadway is 35 miles-per-hour.”
Berkowitz surrendered himself to the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office today, with his attorney present, to be formally served with the aforementioned charges. He was thereafter transported to the Ocean County Jail, where he is presently lodged pending a detention hearing.
Related: The Battle For Jackson: Republicans Meet to Choose 2022 Mayoral Candidate Tonight