Homeland Security: Man accused in deadly Lakewood collision had history of DUI
The Department of Homeland Security says that Raul Luna-Perez is a “criminal illegal alien” from Mexico with a long rap sheet.
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News 12 is learning new information about a man accused in a deadly head-on collision that claimed the lives of a mother and her 11-year-old daughter in Lakewood on July 26.
The Department of Homeland Security says that Raul Luna-Perez is a “criminal illegal alien” from Mexico with a long rap sheet.
The department says that Luna-Perez was arrested in Red Bank two years ago for domestic violence and was arrested twice in Red Bank this year on DUI charges.
RELATED: Impaired driver in Lakewood kills 2, including young girl, in head-on crash, prosecutor says
"[Gov. Phil] Murphy and his sanctuary policies released this serial criminal into New Jersey communities,” Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin wrote in a statement. “Now, this innocent family is shattered by their failed leadership. President [Donald] Trump and Secretary [Kristi] Noem will continue to do everything in their power to remove these criminal illegal aliens before they destroy more lives.”
Officials say Luna-Perez was driving a Dodge Durango on Cross Street and crossed into the oncoming lane of traffic and collided head-on with the victims. Prosecutors say first responders saw that Luna-Perez showed signs of being impaired at the scene.
Luna-Perez has been charged with two counts of vehicular homicide and assault.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement has initiated removal proceedings.
News 12 reached out to the Murphy administration for comment about the situation.
"The Governor believes that Mr. Luna-Perez, who has been arrested multiple times for DUI and domestic violence, should not have been allowed behind the wheel and should have already been deported due to his previous dangerous criminal activity,” a spokesperson for Murphy’s office wrote in a statement.
