Toms River Man Guilty of Vehicular Homicide in Fatal 93 MPH Crash

Alejandro Huerta-Arias, a 24-year-old from Toms River, was found guilty of vehicular homicide following a high-speed crash that resulted in the death of 32-year-old Mark Mandel in Lakewood Township on March 9, 2022. The jury determined that Huerta-Arias was recklessly driving at an average speed of 93 miles per hour, more than double the 40 mph speed limit, when he struck Mandel's vehicle as Mandel attempted a left turn. The impact propelled Mandel's car into a traffic signal, leading to his immediate death at the scene. Huerta-Arias sustained a fractured leg and was treated at a local hospital. He faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, with sentencing scheduled for May 16, 2025. His conviction comes after a nearly two-week trial in which the prosecution highlighted the reckless nature of his driving.