A Toms River woman has pleaded guilty in connection with a fatal 2024 crash in Manchester Township that claimed the life of an 18-year-old Brick Township resident.

Kailyn Gorga, 20, pleaded guilty on July 31 before Judge David M. Fritch to Vehicular Homicide and Assault by Auto stemming from the April 14, 2024 crash on Lacey Road in Whiting.

As part of the plea agreement, prosecutors will seek a seven-year sentence in New Jersey State Prison on the vehicular homicide charge, subject to the No Early Release Act, along with a concurrent four-year prison term for assault by auto when Gorga is sentenced on October 23.

The crash occurred at approximately 2:50 a.m. when Gorga was driving a 2008 Mazda 3 southbound on Lacey Road with five passengers. Authorities said the vehicle struck a curbed median, after which Gorga overcorrected, causing the vehicle to overturn.

Rear-seat passenger Catalina Reinoso, 18, of Brick Township, suffered critical injuries and was airlifted to Jersey Shore University Medical Center. She died from her injuries five days later, on April 19, 2024.

The vehicle’s other occupants—Tyler Beaulieu, 18, of Beachwood, John Winkowski, 19, of Brick Township, Cameron Sparmo, 19, of Toms River, and Peter Myslinski, 19, of Toms River—were transported to the hospital, treated, and later released.

According to prosecutors, a court-authorized blood draw taken from Gorga after the crash revealed a blood alcohol concentration of 0.099%, above New Jersey’s legal limit of 0.08%. Testing also detected active THC and THC metabolites in her system.

Gorga surrendered to Manchester Township Police on May 31, 2024, accompanied by her attorney. She was processed at the Ocean County Jail and later released under New Jersey’s bail reform law.