The tragic incident that occurred in New Jersey, where an illegal immigrant caused a fatal crash that claimed the lives of a young mother and her 11-year-old daughter, has shocked the community. Raul Luna-Perez, the driver responsible for the collision, was found to have a blood alcohol level three times the legal limit at the time of the accident. Eyewitnesses reported seeing Luna-Perez speeding down a residential street in Lakewood before crashing into Maria Pleitez’s Nissan Sentra, killing her instantly.
Maria Pleitez, 42, and her daughter, Dayanara Cortes, 11, were on their way to Wawa for milkshakes when the tragic incident occurred. Dayanara’s friend, who was also in the car with them, survived the crash. Unfortunately, both Maria and Dayanara succumbed to their injuries shortly after the accident. The devastating loss of these two lives has left a deep impact on their family and friends.
Luna-Perez, a Mexican national who had been living in the US illegally since early 2023, had a history of prior arrests, including two DUIs and a domestic violence charge. Despite these red flags, he was still able to operate a vehicle, leading to the fatal crash that claimed the lives of Maria and Dayanara.
Following the crash, Luna-Perez was initially held in an ICE detention facility but has since been transferred back to Ocean County to face upgraded charges of two counts of aggravated manslaughter and two counts of strict liability vehicular homicide. The prosecutor, Bradley D. Billhimer, is determined to ensure that Luna-Perez remains behind bars until trial, emphasizing the importance of holding individuals accountable for their actions, regardless of their immigration status.
The community has come together to mourn the loss of Maria and Dayanara, with a wake drawing more than 150 mourners. The tragic incident serves as a reminder of the devastating consequences of reckless driving and the importance of enforcing laws to prevent such senseless tragedies from occurring in the future.
