Mordechai Berkowitz

By Cecilia Levine From Daily Voice

“Some mistakes can’t be undone.”

That’s the title of an article written by Mordy Berkowitz, who began speaking out about the dangers of drinking and driving in the summer of 2025, three years after the decision that led to a deadly head-on crash in Lakewood and, for him, a six-year prison sentence.

Berkowitz, 24, of Lakewood, was sentenced on Dec. 3, to six years in New Jersey State Prison for Vehicular Homicide, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said. The sentence falls under the No Early Release Act, meaning Berkowitz will be required to serve at least 85 percent of his prison sentence before he may be considered for parole eligibility. He also received a concurrent four-year term for Assault by Auto. He pleaded guilty to both charges on April 23, according to the prosecutor.

The deadly collision happened on July 22, 2022, at 8:20 p.m., on the winding stretch of South Lake Drive near East Lake Park Drive in Lakewood. Investigators said Berkowitz was speeding eastbound in a 2018 Chevrolet Impala when he “crossed over the double yellow line and collided head-on” with a 2017 Toyota Rav4 carrying two women.

Juana Lopez-Hernandez, 44, a front-seat passenger, was pronounced deceased as a result of the injuries she sustained in the crash at Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus. Maria Flores-Moreno, 35, the driver, suffered serious injuries and was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center before being released to rehabilitation.

Blood testing revealed Berkowitz had a .157% BAC, almost double the legal limit. Investigators also determined his vehicle “was traveling in excess of 90 miles-per-hour at the time of the crash,” despite a posted 35-mph limit.

Berkowitz surrendered to the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office on July 27, 2022, and was released under New Jersey Bail Reform.

In the years following the crash, Berkowitz began speaking publicly about the night that changed his life on a website he started called dontdrinkanddrive.com, hoping to prevent others from making the same choice. In his first-person article, he described:

  • Drinking with friends shortly before Shabbos (the sabbath)
  • Rushing behind the wheel, believing he was “fine”
  • The crash, which left him trapped in an overturned, burning car
  • His rescue by a passerby moments before the vehicle exploded
  • Five weeks in jail, followed by years of house arrest
  • The ongoing pain carried by the victims’ families

He wrote about how quickly confidence can turn into catastrophe, saying the danger lies in thinking one drink, one moment, or one short drive will not make a difference. He urged people to plan ahead, avoid driving after any alcohol, and step in if a friend is about to make the same mistake.

His essay also emphasized responsibility — not only for oneself, but for others — stressing that stopping a drunk driver can save a life.