Lakewood man, 20, charged with aggravated manslaughter in Friday crash that killed a woman

Ken Serrano, Asbury Park Press
·2 min read

LAKEWOOD−A 20-year-old township man has been charged with aggravated manslaughter and related offenses in the death of a 44-year-old woman in a crash Friday.

Mordechai Berkowitz was traveling at more than 90 mph in a 35-mph zone and test results later showed he had a blood-alcohol content of .215, said Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer. The legal threshold for intoxication in New Jersey is .08.

The accident killed Juana Lopez-Hernandez, a Mexican citizen.

Berkowitz is also charged with strict liability vehicular homicide, aggravated assault and assault by auto as well as the motor vehicle violations of driving while intoxicated, reckless driving, speeding and failing to maintain a lane.

Lakewood police went to South Lake Drive and East Lake Park Drive around 8:20 p.m. Friday after receiving a report about a serious crash. An investigation by the Vehicular Homicide Unit of the prosecutor's office and Lakewood police found that Berkowitz was driving a 2018 Chevrolet Impala east on South Lake Drive when the Impala crossed over the double yellow line and collided head-on with a 2017 Toyota Rav4 driven by Maria Flores-Moreno, 35, of Jackson, Billhimer said. Lopez-Hernandez was the front-seat passenger.

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Lopez-Hernandez was taken to Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus in Lakewood where she was pronounced dead.

Flores-Moreno was rushed to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune where she is now listed in stable condition, Billhimer said.

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Berkowitz was also taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center where his blood was drawn for the test.

Berkowitz surrendered himself to the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Wednesday with an attorney present. He was taken to Ocean County Jail where he awaits a detention hearing.

If convicted, Berkowitz faces 10 to 30 years in prison on the aggravated manslaughter charge alone.

Ken Serrano covers crime, breaking news, local issues and investigations. Reach him at 732-643-4029 or at kserrano@gannettnj.com.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Lakewood NJ man charged with aggravated manslaughter in deadly crash