LAKEWOOD, NJ — He was identified as ‘A Red Bank Man’ by prosecutors, and he has been charged with two counts of vehicular homicide and assault by auto following a fatal crash late Saturday night that left a woman and an 11-year-old girl dead, and another child seriously injured.
Raul Luna-Perez, 43, was charged Sunday in connection with the collision, which occurred around 11:20 p.m. on July 26 at the intersection of Cross Street and Hearthstone Drive, according to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer.
In a similar fashion to “Maryland Dad”, Luna-Perez’s immigration status is being glossed over by Ocean County’s top law enforcement officials. Luna-Perez has no active ICE detainers, but his immigration status remains unclear as the OCPO does not comment on the immigration status of criminals under the directives set by the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office.
Shore News Network reached out to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office to confirm the suspect’s country of origin.
Investigators say Luna-Perez was driving a Dodge Durango eastbound on Cross Street when he crossed into oncoming traffic and struck a Nissan Sentra head-on. The female driver of the Sentra was pronounced dead at the scene.
An 11-year-old girl in the front passenger seat was taken to Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus in Lakewood, where she was pronounced dead. A second 11-year-old girl, seated in the rear of the vehicle, remains hospitalized in serious but stable condition.
The two passengers riding in the Dodge Durango with Luna-Perez were treated for minor injuries and released from Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune.
First responders noted signs of impairment from Luna-Perez at the scene, prompting a court-authorized blood draw at the hospital. The toxicology results are pending.
Luna-Perez was taken into custody and is currently being held at the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing.
Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Vehicular Homicide Squad, Lakewood Police, and the Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit assisted in the investigation.
Raul Luna-Perez faces vehicular homicide charges after a head-on crash in Lakewood killed two people and injured a third child.