By: Richard L. Smith
A Toms River man has been found guilty of vehicular homicide in connection with a 2022 crash in Lakewood Township that claimed the life of a local resident.
According to information released by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, a jury convicted 24-year-old Alejandro Huerta-Arias on March 18, after a nearly two-week trial before Judge Dina M. Vicari. 
The jury determined that Huerta-Arias recklessly operated his vehicle, leading to the death of 32-year-old Mark Mandel of Lakewood.
Huerta-Arias is set to be sentenced on May 16, 2025, and faces up to 10 years in New Jersey State Prison under the No Early Release Act, which requires offenders to serve at least 85% of their sentence before becoming eligible for parole.
The fatal collision occurred on March 9, 2022, around 8:15 a.m. at the intersection of Madison Avenue and Courtney Road.
Authorities say Huerta-Arias was speeding northbound in a 2012 Infiniti G35 when he struck a 2008 Chevrolet Impala driven by Mandel, who was attempting a left-hand turn onto Courtney Road.
The impact sent Mandel’s vehicle crashing into a traffic signal, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Huerta-Arias sustained a fractured leg and was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center for treatment.
A thorough investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Vehicular Homicide Unit and the Lakewood Township Police Department Traffic Safety Unit determined that Huerta-Arias was traveling at an average speed of 93 miles per hour—more than double the 40 mph speed limit.
Authorities charged Huerta-Arias with vehicular homicide on June 7, 2022.
He later surrendered at Lakewood Township Police Headquarters and was initially detained at the Ocean County Jail before being released under New Jersey Bail Reform guidelines.
With his conviction, Huerta-Arias now awaits sentencing, where he could face a decade behind bars for the deadly crash.