A Toms River woman has pleaded guilty in connection with a 2024 crash that killed one passenger.
At around 2:50 a.m. on April 14, 2024, Manchester Township Police responded to a single vehicle crash in Whiting, New Jersey.
Police said Kailyn Gorga — who was 18-years-old at the time — was driving a 2008 Mazda 3 with four passengers: a front seat passenger, and three in the rear, including 18-year-old Catalina Reinoso.
Gorga and her passengers were traveling south on Lacey Road in Whiting when they struck a curbed median, said police. Gorga overcorrected her steering and the vehicle overturned.
Reinoso was airlifted to Jersey Shore University Medical Center (JSUMC) in Neptune for treatment for her injuries, where she ultimately succumbed to these injuries on April 19, 2024.
The other passengers in the car were also transported to JSUMC, where they were treated and discharged.
While admitted to JSUMC, Gorga submitted to a court-authorized blood draw, police said. Laboratory results showed Gorga had a Blood Alcohol Concentration of 0.099%, over New Jersey’s legal limit of 0.08%.
The results also revealed that she had an Active THC (marijuana) level of 4 nanograms, and a Metabolite THC level of 47 nanograms, reported police.
Gorga surrendered herself to Manchester Township Police Headquarters on May 31, 2024. She was transported to the Ocean County Jail and released through the New Jersey Bail Reform.
Ocean County Prosecutors announced on July 31, 2026, that Gorga pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide and assault by auto in connection with the April 14 fatal crash.
Prosecutors said that the state will seek a prison term of seven years for the vehicular homicide charge, and four years for the assault by auto charge. The sentences would run concurrently.
The proposed sentence would be subject to New Jersey’s No Early Release Act – requiring Gorga to serve 85% of the sentence before becoming eligible for parole.
