Lakewood man was doing 90-mph while extremely drunk in crash that killed a woman – wobm.com
The Lakewood man arrested for causing a multi-car collision when he crossed the double yellow lines that led to a woman’s death last week, faces years in prison after results of a toxicology report came back.
Mordechai Berkowitz, 20, of Lakewood was doing speeds in excess of 90-mph when he caused the crash along South Lake Drive and East Lake Park Drive last Friday evening — around 8:20 pm — on a road with a posted speed limit of 35-mph, according to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer.
In addition to that, Prosecutor Billhimer said that the blood results from a test taken at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, where Berkowitz was taken after the crash, showed that he had a BAC of .215 at the time he caused the crash — and a reminder, the legal limit in New Jersey is .08.
(Photo Courtesy: Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office)
Lakewood Police and the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit learned through their initial investigation that Berkowitz was driving eastbound in his 2018 Chevrolet Impala on South Lake Drive when he suddenly veered across the double yellow lines and struck a 2017 Toyota Rav-4 head-on.
The driver of that vehicle, Maria Flores-Moreno, 35, of Jackson Township, was brought to JSUMC for treatment of her injuries and is currently in stable condition.
Her passenger, Juana Lopez-Hernandez, 44, from Mexico, was brought to Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus in Lakewood, where she later passed away.
Berkowitz was charged with Aggravated Manslaughter, Vehicular Homicide, Strict Liability Vehicular Homicide, Aggravated Assault, and Assault by Auto, as well as the motor vehicle offenses of Driving While Intoxicated, Reckless Driving, Speeding, and Failure to Maintain Lane.
Ocean County Prosecutors Office. (Vin Ebenau, Townsquare Media NJ)
Prosecutor Billhimer said that Berkowitz surrendered himself to the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday, with his attorney present, to be formally served with the aforementioned charges.
He has since been brought to the Ocean County Jail, where he will remain detained, pending a detention hearing.