Men Plead Guilty in 2011 Egg Harbor City Vehicular Homicide

Two men pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide in connection with the death of a 19-year-old woman in Egg Harbor City in 2011, Acting Atlantic County Prosecutor Jim McClain announced on Tuesday.

Kevin Dilks, 22, of Chatsworth, and Alec Kavanagh, 22, of Browns Mills, each pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide as the result of a race they were engaged in on Oct. 23, 2011. During the race, they accidentally took the life of Ashley Adams, of Southampton.

On Oct. 23, 2011 at about 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 Dilks, was traveling south on Clarks Landing Road when the driver lost control of the vehicle. He was involved in a race with Kavanaugh at the time.

The vehicle left the highway and overturned, coming to rest against several trees.

Adams was 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 as the result of multiple blunt force traumas.

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

Dilks was arrested three days later following an investigation conducted by the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office and the Egg Harbor City Police Department. He was charged with vehicular homicide, driving under the influence, reckless driving, and underage drinking

Kavanaugh was issued a warrant upon indictment on Jan. 30, 2013.

Vehicular homicide, a second-degree crime, is punishable by a sentence of 5-10 years in prison, with each being forced to serve 85 percent of the sentence under the No Early Release Act (NERA).

Kavanaugh is scheduled to be sentenced on May 23, and Dilks is scheduled for sentencing Aug. 1.