TOMS RIVER, NJ – A Toms River man who failed field sobriety tests and fled a fatal drunken traffic crash is facing charges today.
Yasmin Sanchez-Centeno, 22, of Toms River, faced multiple charges in connection with a tragic motor vehicle crash that occurred in Manchester Township on Thursday.
At around 10:00 p.m., the Manchester Township Police Department responded to a serious motor vehicle crash at 1881 Route 37. The crash involved a 2007 Yamaha motorcycle driven by Jeffrey Schlinger, 23, of Toms River, and a 2005 Nissan Murano, which Yasmin Sanchez-Centeno operated.
An investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Vehicular Homicide Unit and Manchester Township Police Department revealed that the Nissan Murano pulled onto Route 37 without yielding to the motorcycle, resulting in a collision. The motorcycle struck the rear passenger side door of the Nissan Murano, causing severe injuries to Mr. Schlinger.
He was rushed to Community Medical Center in Toms River but succumbed to his injuries.
After the crash, Sanchez-Centeno fled the scene, continuing eastbound on Route 37 until his vehicle became inoperable. He then abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot into a nearby wooded area. However, Manchester Township Police Officers were able to locate and apprehend him.
Standardized field sobriety tests were administered to Sanchez-Centeno, and he failed all of them.
A court-authorized blood draw was obtained at Community Medical Center in Toms River. Sanchez-Centeno was then taken into custody and transported to the Ocean County Jail, awaiting a detention hearing.