Red Bank man gets 20 years for deadly Lakewood crash
The Nissan driver, Maria Pleitez, 42, of Lakewood, died at the scene. An 11-year-old girl riding in the front passenger seat also died from her injuries. A second 11-year-old girl in the Nissan was injured but later released from the hospital.
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A 43-year-old Red Bank man was sentenced to 20 years in state prison Friday for a 2025 Lakewood crash that killed a woman and an 11-year-old girl. Prosecutors said Raul Luna-Perez was driving about 60 mph while under the influence of alcohol and cocaine.
Luna-Perez pleaded guilty in June to two counts of aggravated manslaughter and one count of assault by auto.
The crash happened around 11:20 p.m. on July 26, 2025, at Cross Street and Hearthstone Drive. Investigators said Luna-Perez crossed the double yellow line and hit a Nissan Sentra head-on after passing four vehicles.
The Nissan driver, Maria Pleitez, 42, of Lakewood, died at the scene. An 11-year-old girl riding in the front passenger seat also died from her injuries. A second 11-year-old girl in the Nissan was injured but later released from the hospital.
A blood test found Luna-Perez had a blood alcohol level of more than twice New Jersey's legal limit. A toxicology report concluded he was also under the influence of cocaine when the crash occurred.
Luna-Perez received 10 years for each manslaughter conviction, with the sentences running back-to-back. He must serve at least 85% of his sentence before becoming eligible for parole. His 18-month assault-by-auto sentence will run at the same time.
