Illegal migrant indicted in lakewood crash that killed mother and 11-year-old daughter

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.

Phil Stilton Latest posts

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.