A 43-year-old man faces enhanced charges after a July 26 crash in Lakewood that killed a mother and her 11-year-old daughter.
Raul Luna Perez, of Red Bank, was charged Thursday with two counts of aggravated manslaughter and two counts of strict liability vehicular homicide, according to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer.
Initially charged with two counts of vehicular homicide, tests revealed Luna Perez had a blood-alcohol concentration of .19 at the time of the crash, well above New Jersey's legal limit of .08. Authorities estimate he may have been driving with three times the legal limit.
Luna Perez was driving a Dodge Durango at 60 mph east on Cross Street when he crossed the double-yellow line and collided head-on with a Nissan Sentra around 11:20 p.m. Maria Pleitez, 42, died at the scene. Her daughter, seated in the front passenger seat, later succumbed to her injuries at Monmouth Medical Center.
Another passenger, an 11-year-old girl in the back seat, was hospitalized but has since been released.
Following his earlier arrest, Luna Perez was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement after a federal immigration detainer was issued. He was released on July 31 under strict home confinement before being taken back into custody after upgraded charges.
Luna Perez has prior arrests, including domestic violence and multiple DUI charges, according to court records.
The family of Pleitez is raising funds through GoFundMe for the funerals, having collected $31,431 of their $35,000 goal.
Ken Serrano covers breaking news for APP. Reach him at 732-643-4029 or kserrano@gannettnj.com.