LAKEWOOD, N.J. – A ‘Red Bank’ man, who is a twice-released criminal alien accused of driving drunk and causing a deadly head-on crash that killed a mother and her young daughter, has been indicted on multiple homicide charges by an Ocean County grand jury.
Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced Wednesday that 43-year-old Raul Luna-Perez faces seven charges, including two counts of aggravated manslaughter and two counts of reckless vehicular homicide.
Authorities say Luna-Perez, a Mexican national living in the U.S. illegally, was three times over the legal alcohol limit when his SUV crossed into oncoming traffic and collided with another car.
Key Points
- Raul Luna-Perez, 43, indicted for aggravated manslaughter and related homicide charges
- Crash killed 42-year-old Maria Pleitez and her 11-year-old daughter in Lakewood
- Suspect was reportedly driving drunk with a BAC of .19 and entered U.S. illegally
Deadly late-night crash in Lakewood
Investigators said the collision occurred around 11:20 p.m. on July 26 at the intersection of Cross Street and Hearthstone Drive. Luna-Perez was driving a Dodge Durango eastbound when he allegedly crossed the double-yellow line, passing four vehicles before slamming head-on into a Nissan Sentra driven by 42-year-old Maria Pleitez of Lakewood.
Pleitez was pronounced dead at the scene. Her 11-year-old daughter, seated in the front passenger seat, was rushed to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune but later died from her injuries. A second 11-year-old passenger in the back seat survived.
Luna-Perez’s passenger suffered minor injuries and was treated at the same hospital before being released.
Prosecutors say driver was highly intoxicated
Responding officers said Luna-Perez showed clear signs of impairment. A court-authorized blood draw at Jersey Shore University Medical Center revealed a blood alcohol concentration of at least .19 — nearly three times New Jersey’s legal limit of .08.
Investigators also determined the Dodge Durango was traveling about 60 miles per hour when it crossed into opposing lanes, causing the fatal crash.
Released under bail reform, then taken into ICE custody
Luna-Perez was initially charged with vehicular homicide and assault by auto on July 27 and detained in the Ocean County Jail. He was later released on strict home detention under New Jersey’s bail reform guidelines.
Soon after, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) lodged a detainer, and he was transferred to federal custody. On August 7, after the results of his blood test were confirmed, prosecutors upgraded the charges to aggravated manslaughter and strict liability vehicular homicide. Detectives took Luna-Perez into custody again at the ICE detention facility in Elizabeth, and he has remained in the Ocean County Jail since.
Prior arrests and immigration history
Federal authorities identified Luna-Perez as a Mexican national who entered the U.S. illegally at an unknown time and location. Records show a June 25, 2023 arrest in Red Bank for simple domestic violence and two separate DUI arrests in 2025 — one on March 20 and another on April 17 — both by Red Bank Police.
ICE officials confirmed that removal proceedings have been initiated following his indictment. Luna-Perez remains held without bail pending trial in Ocean County Superior Court.