Teen Charged In Fatal Route 37 Motorcycle Crash Lied About His Identity, Prosecutor Says

TOMS RIVER, NJ — A teenager who was charged in connection with a Route 37 crash that killed a motorcyclist on Aug. 3 lied to authorities about his identity, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office said Wednesday.

The teen, who tried to run and hid in the woods after the crash, is not 22-year-old Yasmin Sanchez-Centeno, Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said.

"At the time of the fatal crash, the young man presented identification indicating he was 22 years old," Billhimer said. "Further investigation revealed that he provided false identification to the police and that he was actually 17 years old."

Authorities did not release his real name or say how the false identity came to light. They also did not say what connection the teen has, if any, to Sanchez-Centeno.

The teen has been moved to the Ocean County Juvenile Detention Center and has been charged with vehicular homicide, strict liability vehicular homicide, knowingly leaving the scene of a motor vehicle crash resulting in death, and being an unlicensed driver involved in a motor vehicle crash resulting in death.

In addition, he has been charged with hindering apprehension by giving false information to law enforcement, Billhimer said.

Jeffrey Schlinger, 23, of Toms River, who was riding a 2007 Yamaha motorcycle, was seriously injured in the crash and succumbed to his injuries at Community Medical Center in Toms River, authorities said.

The crash happened about 10 p.m. Thursday on Route 37 near the Pine Acres Manor mobile home park, authorities said.

Schlinger was riding the Yamaha east on Route 37 when a 2005 Nissan Murano driven by the teen pulled out onto Route 37 into the path of the motorcycle, authorities said. Schlinger was unable to avoid a collision and hit the rear passenger side door of the Nissan, and suffered serious injuries, authorities said.

After the crash, the Nissan continued east on Route 37 until it would no longer drive, and then the teen got out and ran into some nearby woods, authorities said. He ultimately was found and arrested by Manchester Township police officers, and then lied to them about his identity, Billhimer said.

The teen was administered standardized field sobriety tests, all of which he failed, Billhimer said. He was taken to Community Medical Center and a sample of his blood was drawn pursuant to a court-authorized warrant, Billhimer said.