Two Men Plead Guilty to Vehicular Homicide of 19-year-old Woman in Egg Harbor City

MAYS LANDING – Two New Jersey men pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide for racing on the highway and causing the 2011 single-vehicle crash in Egg Harbor City that killed a 19-year-old woman, Acting Atlantic County Prosecutor Jim McClain announced today.

Kevin Dilks, 22, of Chatsworth, NJ, and Alec Kavanagh, 22, of Browns Mills, NJ, each pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide for causing the Egg Harbor City motor-vehicle crash on October 23, 2011, that took the life of 19-year-old Ashley Adams, of Southampton, NJ.

On October 23, 2011, at approximately 1:30 a.m., authorities from the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, the Egg Harbor City Police Department and the Galloway Township Police Department responded to the scene of a one-car motor vehicle accident on Clarks Landing Road, in Egg Harbor City.

A Jeep Cherokee, driven by Kevin Dilks, was traveling south on Clarks Landing Road when the driver lost control of the vehicle, which left the highway and overturned, coming to rest against several trees. The female passenger, Ashley Adams, 19, of Southampton, NJ, had been ejected from the vehicle and sustained serious injuries. She was flown to Atlanticare Regional Medical Center in Atlantic City. Adams was pronounced dead at the hospital, the cause of death: multiple blunt force traumas.

Dilks suffered minor injury, and was transported by ambulance to the Atlanticare Regional Medical Center.

The subsequent investigation by the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office and the Egg Harbor City Police Department led to Kevin Dilks’ arrest three days later for charges of vehicular homicide, driving under the influence, reckless driving, and underage drinking, and the issuance of a warrant upon indictment for Alec Kavanaugh on January 30, 2013.

On January 30, 2013, Kevin Dilks and Alec Kavanagh were both indicted for vehicular homicide and conspiracy. The State alleged that Dilks and Kavanagh were racing on the highway when Dilks lost control of his vehicle and crashed.

Vehicular homicide, a second-degree crime, is punishable by 5 to 10 years imprisonment. Pursuant to the No Early Release Act (NERA), each must serve 85% of the prison sentence before becoming eligible for parole.

Both men remain released on bail, and are scheduled for sentencing before Atlantic County Superior Court Judge Bernard E. DeLury, Alec Kavanagh on May 23rd, and Kevin Dilks on August 1st.

Assistant Prosecutor Seth Levy represented the State in the matter.

Anyone with information involving serious crimes is asked to call the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office at 609-909-7800 or go to the Prosecutor’s Office Web site at http://www.acpo.org/tips.html and provide information by filling out the form anonymously on the Submit a Tip page. People can also call Crime Stoppers at 609-652- 1234 or 1-800-658-8477 (TIPS) or visit the Crime Stoppers Website at http://www.crimestoppersatlantic.com/. Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards for information leading to the arrest and indictment of those who commit crimes in Atlantic County.