Toms River, NJ – Kailyn Gorga, 20, of Toms River, has pleaded guilty to Vehicular Homicide in connection with a rollover crash in Manchester Township that killed 18-year-old Catalina Reinoso of Brick Township.
According to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer, Gorga entered the guilty plea before Superior Court Judge David M. Fritch on July 31. She also pleaded guilty to Assault by Auto for injuries suffered by the other occupants of the vehicle.
Prosecutors seek seven-year prison sentence
When Gorga is sentenced on Oct. 23, prosecutors will seek a seven-year sentence in New Jersey State Prison on the vehicular homicide conviction, subject to the No Early Release Act.
The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office is also seeking a concurrent four-year prison sentence for the Assault by Auto conviction, meaning both sentences would be served at the same time.
Crash overturned vehicle on Lacey Road
The crash occurred at approximately 2:50 a.m. on April 14, 2024, when Manchester Township police responded to the area of Lacey Road in Whiting for a report of a single-vehicle rollover.
Investigators determined Gorga was driving a 2008 Mazda 3 southbound on Lacey Road with five passengers inside when the vehicle struck a curbed median. According to prosecutors, Gorga overcorrected after hitting the median, causing the vehicle to overturn.
Along with Reinoso, the vehicle was occupied by front-seat passenger Tyler Beaulieu, 18, of Beachwood, and rear-seat passengers John Winkowski, 19, of Brick Township, Cameron Sparmo, 19, of Toms River, and Peter Myslinski, 19, of Toms River.
All six occupants were transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center. The surviving passengers were treated for their injuries and later released.
Brick Township teen died days after crash
Reinoso suffered critical injuries and was airlifted to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune following the crash.
Despite medical treatment, she died from her injuries on April 19, five days after the collision.
Authorities obtained a court-authorized warrant to draw Gorga’s blood while she was being treated at the hospital.
Blood tests showed alcohol and THC
According to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, laboratory testing determined Gorga had a blood alcohol concentration of .099 percent.
Under New Jersey law, a driver is presumed to be under the influence of alcohol with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 percent or greater.
Prosecutors also said laboratory testing detected an active THC level of 4 nanograms and a THC metabolite level of 47 nanograms in Gorga’s blood.
On May 31, 2024, Gorga surrendered at Manchester Township Police headquarters with her attorney. She was processed at the Ocean County Jail before being released under New Jersey’s bail reform law pending the resolution of the case.
Prosecutor Billhimer credited Supervising Assistant Prosecutor Alyssa Mandara, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Vehicular Homicide Squad, the Manchester Township Police Department and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit for their work during the investigation.
