Atlantic County, NJ – A woman lost her life in a fatal crash as a result of a three-vehicle accident in Atlantic County, resulting in a man from Camden County facing charges of second-degree vehicular homicide. 30-year-old Stephen Sirch from Voorhees was taken into custody and accused of speeding, leading to the tragic incident. The crash, which occurred on Black Horse Pike in Hamilton Township, Atlantic County, resulted in the death of 29-year-old Karina Castillo of Clementon, a family therapist, and marriage counselor from Vineland who was well-known in her community.
Township of Hamilton police reported that the accident happened in the proximity of High Bank Road around 2:15 p.m. on a Wednesday, as Sirch’s Chevrolet Equinox collided with a Honda Civic while both vehicles were heading west on Black Horse Pike. Following the impact, the Honda intersected the median and was struck by a Ford Fusion driven by a 40-year-old woman from Hammonton, leading to the tragic passing of Castillo. Sirch, the Ford driver, along with two passengers, were transferred to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center in Atlantic City for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries, with a child passenger also sent to Cooper University Medical Center.
After the crash, Sirch was apprehended and charged by the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office on Monday, with the finding that he was speeding at the time of the collision. Meanwhile, as a response to the outpouring of support and to aid with funeral expenses, a GoFundMe campaign was launched by Castillo’s sorority sisters from the chapter of Lambda Tau Omega at Rowan University. The campaign had garnered over $29,000 from more than 500 donations by Tuesday, generously contributed to help cover funeral costs and support Castillo’s fiancé, Joe, and daughter Graciela, as a means to honor and remember her impactful life and work within the community. The New Jersey Department of Transportation was required to divert traffic for several hours due to the utility pole that was downed during the tragic accident.
