An illegal immigrant from Mexico was allegedly drunk behind the wheel of a speeding SUV that crossed into incoming traffic and crashed head-on into a compact car, killing an innocent woman and her bright-eyed 11-year-old daughter, New Jersey authorities said.
Raul Luna-Perez, 43, has been living in Red Bank, N.J., since early 2023, federal sources told The Post. When and where he allegedly snuck into the U.S. is not known.
The suspect has been roaming free despite two DUI arrests in March and April, and a domestic violence arrest in 2023, according to records.
Maria Pleitez and Dayanara Cortes were killed in a head-on crash July 26. Forevermissed.com
“Governor Murphy and his sanctuary policies released this serial criminal into New Jersey communities,” Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told the Post Friday. “Now, this innocent family is shattered by their failed leadership.
“President Trump and Secretary Noem will continue to do everything in their power to remove these criminal illegal aliens before they destroy more lives.”
White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said the Trump administration’s thoughts and “prayers are with the surviving family members coping with the loss of their loved ones.
“Every crime committed by an illegal alien is 100% preventable — they should have never been in our country to begin with,” Jackson added.
“This tragedy underscores how dangerous sanctuary jurisdictions are and how critical it is to deport criminal illegal aliens from the country. President Trump is committed to fulfilling the mandate he was elected on: deporting criminal illegal aliens and making America safe again.”
Luna-Perez’s Dodge Durango slammed into Maria Santos Pleitez’s Nissan Sentra in the horrific July 26 wreck in Lakewood, NJ, according to local prosecutors.
Raul Luna-Perez is a Mexican national. Ocean County Corrections
Pleitez’s niece, Maria del Carmen Pleitez, 39, told The Post the mother and daughter were on their way to Wawa for milkshakes when they were struck.
The 42-year-old mother was killed instantly. Her youngest daughter, Dayanara Cortes, who was sitting in the front passenger seat, perished soon after arriving at the hospital.
A second, unidentified 11-year-old girl riding in the back seat at the time of the 11:20 p.m. collision was rushed to a local hospital in critical condition. The girl — Dayanara’s friend — has since been upgraded to stable.
Luna-Perez walked away with minor injuries. His two passengers sustained minor injuries, for which they were treated and released.
Because he was showing symptoms of intoxication at the crash scene at Cross Street and Hearthstone Drive, blood was drawn from Luna-Perez at the hospital, authorities said.
Photos from the scene show the mangled front-end of Pleitez’s car. Y Smith/TLS
The crash killed Pleitez instantly, while Dayanara died moments after arriving at the hospital. Y Smith/TLS
He was later charged with two counts of vehicular homicide and assault by auto. Charges could be added once prosecutors receive the blood test results.
In a sad irony, the mother he allegedly killed immigrated from El Salvador 24 years ago. Her children were born in the US, the niece said.
A GoFundMe campaign is raising money to pay for the bodies to be brought to El Salvador for burial.
So far, the fundraiser has generated more than $30,000 in donations.
“She was the head of the family, and she was bringing up her two daughters,” Pleitez told The Post Saturday, before the mother and daughter’s wake, which was attended by approximately 100 people. “She had her own apartment, her own place, and she never asked her help for anything. She was just such a hardworking woman.”
Pleitez said her aunt was also “a happy person” who “would come to our homes and just bring happiness.
Dayanara only recently celebrated her 11th birthday. Forevermissed.com
“She was never angry, never sad. She always had the strength to continue going, and that’s what hurts, because the guy had two DUIs already.”
While Pleitez was told by authorities Luna-Perez would likely be deported back to Mexico, “I don’t believe that’s fair. I feel they have to try him here, and bring justice to him here.”
The suspect remains in custody at the Ocean County Jail in Toms River on an active ICE immigration detainer, according to online jail records.
Luna-Perez has been a scofflaw for years, records show. Why he remained in the U.S. after being charged with crimes multiple times is a mystery. New Jersey prosecutors would not even discuss his immigration status, citing state disclosure laws
He was arrested in 2008 by Red Bank cops for disorderly conduct.
A photo shows police tape encircling Luna-Perez’s crumpled SUV. Y Smith/TLS
He was charged with assault on Jan. 2, 2023, following a violent incident in the same shore town.
That same month, Luna-Perez was busted — again in Red Bank — for leaving the scene of an accident involving property damage, and failure to report an accident. He was later ordered to pay a $970 fine.
His rap sheet includes an arrest in June 2023 for domestic violence. The details surrounding that incident were unavailable.
Luna-Perez seemed drunk at the crash scene, authorities said. Y Smith/TLS
Shockingly, Luna-Perez was twice collared for DUI within a month this year, yet continued to walk — and drive — free.
He was busted March 20 after a traffic stop on River Street in Red Bank. On April 17, he was stopped by police and again charged for DUI.
Prosecutors said Luna-Perez does not yet have a lawyer.
While Red Bank has never declared itself a “sanctuary city,” officials there adopted a 2017 resolution stating its support for migrants.
Under the direction of Gov. Phil Murphy, New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal issued a directive in 2018, turning the Garden State into a sanctuary state. In recent years, Republican lawmakers have implored Murphy to “reevaluate” the state’s position on the classification.
Since 2018, New Jersey has had a statewide Immigrant Trust Directive, with new mandates designed to foster cooperation and “strengthen trust between law enforcement officers and immigrant communities.” One of those bars police from even questioning suspects about their immigration status.
With additional reporting by Marie Pohl and Georgia Worrell