A Red Bank man has admitted responsibility in a devastating drunk- and drug-impaired crash in Lakewood that killed a mother and her 11-year-old daughter and injured another child.

Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that Raul Luna-Perez, 43, pleaded guilty Monday to two counts of aggravated manslaughter and one count of assault by auto in connection with the July 26, 2025 crash at the intersection of Cross Street and Hearthstone Drive.

Under a plea agreement, prosecutors will seek a sentence totaling 20 years in New Jersey State Prison when Luna-Perez is sentenced on August 28. The State will seek two consecutive 10-year terms on the aggravated manslaughter convictions, each subject to the No Early Release Act, requiring him to serve at least 85 percent of the sentence before becoming eligible for parole. An additional 18-month sentence on the assault by auto charge would run concurrently.

According to investigators, the crash occurred shortly after 11:20 p.m. when a Dodge Durango driven by Luna-Perez crossed into oncoming traffic and slammed head-on into a Nissan Sentra.

The driver of the Sentra, Maria Pleitez, 42, of Lakewood, was pronounced dead at the scene. An 11-year-old girl riding in the front passenger seat was rushed to Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus, where she later died from her injuries. Another 11-year-old girl seated in the rear of the vehicle survived after being treated at Jersey Shore University Medical Center and later released.

Authorities said first responders immediately observed signs that Luna-Perez was impaired. A court-authorized blood draw later revealed a blood alcohol concentration of at least 0.19 — more than twice New Jersey’s legal limit of 0.08. Toxicology testing also detected cocaine metabolites in his system, and experts concluded he was under the influence of both alcohol and cocaine at the time of the collision.

Investigators further determined that Luna-Perez was traveling at approximately 60 miles per hour and had crossed over a double yellow line while passing four vehicles moments before the deadly impact.

Luna-Perez was initially charged with two counts of vehicular homicide and assault by auto. After being arrested, he was released on strict home detention under New Jersey’s bail reform laws before being taken into federal custody on an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainer.

Following the results of the blood tests and the continuing investigation, prosecutors upgraded the charges in August 2025 to include two counts of aggravated manslaughter and two counts of strict liability vehicular homicide. Detectives subsequently took Luna-Perez into custody at an ICE detention facility in Elizabeth and returned him to Ocean County Jail, where he has remained since.