Voorhees Driver Gets 15 Years for Fatal Crash

Our community continues to grapple with the devastating consequences of impaired driving after a Camden County man received a 15-year prison sentence for a crash that killed a young mother in Atlantic County's Hamilton Township.

Stephen Sirch, 32, of Voorhees Township, pleaded guilty earlier this year to first-degree aggravated manslaughter following the April 3, 2024 collision on the Black Horse Pike, according to the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office. The crash occurred just after 2 p.m. when Sirch's vehicle struck another car, which then collided with a third vehicle.

The impact claimed the life of 29-year-old Karina E. Castillo of Clementon, who died at the scene. Three occupants of the third vehicle sustained injuries in the multi-car collision.

Investigators determined that Sirch was traveling at 100 mph at the time of the crash and was under the influence of multiple drugs, including fentanyl, according to Chief Assistant Prosecutor Seth Levy and Executive Assistant Prosecutor Rick McKelvey. The findings paint a sobering picture of the dangers posed by drug-impaired driving on our roadways.

Castillo's death represents a profound loss for our community. According to her obituary, she served as a social worker within the New Jersey Department of Children and Families, the Division of Protection and Permanency—a role dedicated to protecting vulnerable children and families throughout the state. She left behind her fiancé and a baby daughter.

The case moved through the legal system with Sirch facing charges of first-degree aggravated manslaughter and three counts of third-degree assault by auto. His guilty plea in February led to the 15-year sentence, which he will serve in New Jersey State Prison under the No Early Release Act. This sentencing provision means Sirch must serve the full term without the possibility of parole.

The tragedy underscores the ongoing crisis of fentanyl and drug-impaired driving in New Jersey. As our communities work to address substance abuse and road safety, cases like this remind us of the real human cost—a young mother who dedicated her career to helping others, a child who will grow up without her mother, and a family forever changed by one person's decision to drive while impaired.