A Toms River woman has pleaded guilty in connection with a 2024 crash in Manchester Township that claimed the life of an 18-year-old passenger.

Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that on July 31, 2026, 20-year-old Kailyn Gorga pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide and assault by auto before Superior Court Judge David M. Fritch. Prosecutors said they will seek a seven-year New Jersey State Prison sentence, subject to the No Early Release Act, on the vehicular homicide conviction, along with a concurrent four-year sentence for assault by auto when Gorga is sentenced on October 23, 2026.

The charges stem from a crash that occurred at approximately 2:50 a.m. on April 14, 2024, on Lacey Road in the Whiting section of Manchester Township. Authorities said Gorga was driving a 2008 Mazda 3 southbound when the vehicle struck a curbed median. Investigators determined she overcorrected, causing the vehicle to overturn.

The crash seriously injured all five passengers. Catalina Reinoso, 18, of Brick Township, was airlifted to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, where she died from her injuries on April 19, 2024. The remaining passengers were treated for their injuries and later released.

According to prosecutors, a court-authorized blood draw revealed Gorga had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.099%, above New Jersey’s legal limit of 0.08%. Laboratory testing also detected active THC and THC metabolites in her system.

Gorga surrendered to Manchester Township Police on May 31, 2024, accompanied by her attorney. She was processed at the Ocean County Jail and later released under New Jersey’s bail reform guidelines.

The case was investigated by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit–Vehicular Homicide Squad, the Manchester Township Police Department, and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit. Prosecutors credited Supervising Assistant Prosecutor Alyssa Mandara with handling the case on behalf of the State.