On Monday, August 10, 2026, members of the Hudson County Regional Collision Investigation Unit arrested a driver involved in a fatal crash that occurred in North Bergen on Saturday, May 30, 2026.
Mahmoud Khalifa, 21, of Clifton, is charged with Aggravated Manslaughter in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:11-4a(1); Death by Auto in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:11-5a; five counts of Assault by Auto in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1c(2); and Causing Death While Driving Suspended in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:40-22a. He was arrested at the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office in Secaucus and transported to the Hudson County Correctional Facility pending his first court appearance.
Shortly after 4:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 30, 2026, the North Bergen Police Department was notified of a multi-vehicle crash in the area of Tonnelle Avenue and 70th Street. Responding officers located four damaged vehicles – a tractor trailer, an Alfa Romeo Giulia, a Hyundai Tucson, and a BMW 435i driven by the defendant. The driver of the Hyundai Tuscan – later identified as Karen Velasquez-Ochoa, 34, of North Bergen – was found unresponsive in the vehicle and pronounced deceased. Four occupants of the Alfa Romeo and a passenger in the defendant’s car were treated for injuries.
The above charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. R.P.C.3.6(b)(6)
