Lakewood, NJ man who did 90-mph while drunk in fatal crash has been indicted

🚔 Lakewood man indicted for DWI and speeding in fatal crash

🚔 Police say he had a BAC of .157 and was doing 90-mph in a 35-mph zone

🚔 Jackson woman in other vehicle injured, her passenger died at the hospital

The Lakewood man who was found to be drunk with a BAC of .157 and driving at more than 90-mph at the time of a July 2022 fatal crash has been indicted by a Grand Jury in Ocean County.

21-year old Mordechair Berkowitz was driving along South Lake Drive near East Lake Park Drive on July 22 when he crossed over the double yellow line and collided head-on with a Toyota RAV-4 driven by Maria Flores-Moreno, 35, of Jackson Township, according to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer.

Flores-Moreno had a front-seat passenger in her vehicle at the time, 44-year old Juana Lopez-Hernandez of Mexico, who later passed away at the hospital.

Lakewood Police were first on the scene that night around 8:20 pm and along with the OCPO Vehicular Homicide Unit who joined them on the scene learned what happened as Berkowitz drove the Chevrolet Impala.

Flores-Moreno, who was hospitalized at Jersey Shore University Medical Center for her injuries, is still recovering to this day at home following time at a rehabilitation facility.

Berkowitz was also brought to JSUMC that night for his injuries and where blood was drawn as part of the police investigation.

Get our free mobile app

He later surrendered himself to the Ocean County Sheriff's Office a few days later with his attorney to be served with the charges he has since been indicted for on Aggravated Manslaughter and Aggravated Assault.

Prosecutor Billhimer said that Ocean County Assistant Prosecutor Alyssa Mandara presented the case to the Grand Jury on behalf of the State.