Yasmin Sanchez-Centeno, of Toms River, was charged on Friday, Aug. 4 with vehicular homicide, strict liability vehicular homicide, and more, in the crash that killed 23-year-old Jeffrey Schlinger the day prior, according to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer.
At 10 p.m., Manchester Township Police Department were called to the area of 1881 Route 37 for a report of a serious motor vehicle crash, where they found a 2007 Yamaha motorcycle and a 2005 Nissan Murano that had been involved in a crash.
The Nissan Murano, operated by Sanchez-Centeno, pulled out onto Route 37 – failing to yield to the motorcycle, authorities said. Unable to avoid a collision, Schlinger struck the rear passenger side door of the Nissan Murano, Billhimer said.
As a result, Schlinger was taken to Community Medical Center in Toms River, where he ultimately died, the prosecutor said.
Further investigation revealed that after the crash, Sanchez-Centeno continued eastbound on Route 37 until his vehicle became inoperable. He then exited the vehicle and fled on foot into a nearby wooded area, the prosecutor said.
Sanchez-Centeno was found by Manchester Township Police Officers. Once apprehended, police administered standardized field sobriety tests to Sanchez-Centeno – all of which he failed, according to Billhimer.
He was taken to Community Medical Center in Toms River, where a draw of his blood was obtained pursuant to a court-authorized warrant. Sanchez-Centeno was taken to the Ocean County Jail, where he was lodged pending a detention hearing.
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