Jury Finds Toms River Man Guilty of Vehicular Homicide in 93 m.p.h. Crash

Alejandro Huerta-Arias (Credit: Ocean County Jail)

A Toms River man who was driving at more than double the posted speed limit before striking a fellow motorist, resulting in his death, has been found guilty of vehicular homicide after a two week-long trial.

Alejandro Huerta-Arias, 24, of Toms River, was found guilty of vehicular homicide in connection with a motor vehicle crash that occurred in Lakewood on March 9, 2022, resulting in the death of Mark Mandel, 32, of Lakewood.

The jury concluded Tuesday that Huerta-Arias recklessly operated a motor vehicle which caused the death of Mandel, prosecutors said in a statement. Huerta-Arias is scheduled to be sentenced by Superior Court Judge Dina Vicari on May 16, 2025, at which time he faces 10 years New Jersey state prison.

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According to prosecutors, the crash occurred near the intersection of Madison Avenue and Courtney Road. An initial investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Vehicular Homicide Unit and Lakewood Township Police Department Traffic Safety Unit revealed that Huerta-Arias was traveling northbound on Madison Avenue in a 2012 Infinity G35 when he struck a 2008 Chevrolet Impala, operated by Mandel, who was attempting to make a left-hand turn onto Courtney Road.

The impact of the crash propelled Mandel’s vehicle into a traffic signal. He was pronounced deceased at the scene. Huerta-Arias was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune for treatment of a fractured leg.

Investigators determined the vehicle operated by Huerta-Arias was traveling at an average speed of 93 miles-per-hour at the time of the crash – more than double the 40 m.p.h. speed limit posted on the roadway. Huerta-Arias was charged with vehicular homicide on June 7, 2022, and he surrendered himself at Lakewood Township Police Headquarters the same day. Huerta-Arias was transported to the Ocean County Jail and subsequently released under New Jersey’s bail reform law.