MANCHESTER – A Lakewood man, who remains a fugitive, has been indicted on a vehicular homicide charge in connection with a 2025 crash in Manchester Township that killed a Toms River man, authorities said.
Luis Vazquez-Hernandez, 27, was indicted May 27 by an Ocean County grand jury, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced.
The charge stems from an Aug. 11, 2025, crash near Hilltop Road and Route 70. Police were called to the area at about 8:15 a.m. for a crash involving a fatality.
Investigators said a 2014 Dodge van carrying a driver and three passengers was heading west on Route 70 when it was struck by a 2017 Ford Sprinter van driven by Vazquez-Hernandez, who was also traveling west.
According to authorities, the Dodge was attempting to turn left onto Hilltop Road when the Ford crossed the double yellow line, passed stopped traffic from behind and hit the Dodge.
The driver and two front-seat passengers in the Dodge were taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, treated for their injuries and later released. A fourth occupant, Ramon Orellana-Asturias, 65, of Toms River, was seated in the cargo area and was pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said.
Vazquez-Hernandez was taken to Community Medical Center in Toms River for treatment of minor injuries. He was issued several motor vehicle summonses, including reckless driving, careless driving, speeding and improper passing.
Authorities said Vazquez-Hernandez was charged with vehicular homicide on Aug. 18, 2025. He remains a fugitive, and his name has been entered into the National Crime Information Center database.
Billhimer credited Senior Assistant Prosecutor Taylor Toscano with presenting the case to the grand jury. He also commended the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Vehicular Homicide Squad, Manchester Township Police Department and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit for their work on the investigation.
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