LAKEHURST, NJ — A Lakewood man pleaded guilty to eluding and aggravated assault charges stemming from two separate incidents in Ocean County.
Edwin Ramirez-Carranza, 21, of Lakewood, entered the guilty pleas on December 1 before Judge David M. Fritch in Superior Court.
The eluding charge stems from an incident that occurred in Lakehurst on October 8, 2024.
The aggravated assault charge relates to a motor vehicle crash that occurred in Lakewood Township on April 19.
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced the state will seek a five-year prison term for the eluding charge and five years subject to the No Early Release Act for the aggravated assault charge at sentencing on January 30, 2026.
The sentences are to run concurrently.
Ramirez-Carranza will also plead guilty to underage driving while intoxicated at the time of his sentencing.
On October 8, 2024, Lakehurst Borough police officers observed a three-car crash on Route 70.
All three vehicles attempted to flee the scene.
Officers attempted to stop a Chevrolet Silverado operated by Ramirez-Carranza, but he ignored signals to stop and eluded officers.
Ramirez-Carranza was forced to stop when his vehicle became disabled in the flow of traffic.
Officers observed him exhibiting signs of intoxication.
Ramirez-Carranza was unable to successfully perform field sobriety tests, and breath testing revealed a blood alcohol content above the legal limit for an underage driver.
He was taken to the Ocean County Jail and subsequently released under New Jersey Bail Reform.
On April 19 at approximately 12:10 a.m., Lakewood Township police responded to the intersection of New Hampshire Avenue and Cedar Bridge Avenue for a report of a crash with serious injuries.
Officers observed a Honda Civic in the roadway and a Chevy Silverado in a drainage basin off the roadway.
An investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Vehicular Homicide Squad and Lakewood Township Police Department revealed the Chevy Silverado operated by Ramirez-Carranza was traveling northbound on New Hampshire Avenue when it disregarded a red traffic signal and struck the Honda Civic traveling eastbound on Cedar Bridge Avenue.
The Honda Civic was being operated by an off-duty Lakewood Township police officer who had just ended his shift.
The off-duty officer was transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune for treatment of serious injuries and was later released.
Investigation revealed the Chevy Silverado was traveling at approximately 106 miles per hour just seconds before the crash.
Ramirez-Carranza was also transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center for treatment of his injuries.
On April 20, Ramirez-Carranza was released from the medical center and transported to the Ocean County Jail, where he has been lodged since that date.
Senior Assistant Prosecutor Stephen Burke is handling both cases.
