Teen Driver To Be Tried As Adult In Route 37 Crash That Killed Couple: Report

TOMS RIVER, NJ — An 18-year-old from Toms River will be tried in adult court on charges stemming from a Route 37 crash in March that killed a young couple and seriously injured two others, according to a report.

Carlos D. Martinez, who was 17 at the time of the March 7 crash that killed Evan Fiore, 23, and Kiley Armstrong, 21, consented to have the charges waived out of juvenile court, the Asbury Park Press reported. He faced a hearing June 26 before Ocean County Superior Court Judge Kenneth T. Palmer and was scheduled for a detention hearing on Thursday, the report said.

Martinez turned 18 on June 28, the report said.

Martinez was charged in March with two counts of aggravated manslaughter; four counts of aggravated assault causing bodily injury while eluding; two counts of death by auto; two counts of causing death while driving unlicensed; two counts of causing injury while driving unlicensed; two counts of aggravated assault manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life; eluding, and four counts of assault by auto, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said at the time. The case was transferred to the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office shortly afterward due to a conflict, authorities said.

Martinez, who did not have a driver's license, was driving a white BMW at more than 100 mph during a 15-minute stretch on March 7 during a trip with two passengers that went from Toms River across the Route 37 bridge, north to Lavallette, then south to Seaside Heights before returning to Toms River and ending with the fatal crash.

The crash happened at 10:58 p.m. when the BMW hit a Toyota Camry, driven by Fiore, at the intersection of Route 37 and Route 166, authorities said.

The BMW had first been seen by Toms River police officers about 10:45 p.m. driving east over the Thomas A. Mathis Bridge into Seaside Heights at a high rate of speed, authorities said at the time.
Toms River police tried to pull the car over but it kept going north on Route 35 toward Lavallette, still speeding, and Toms River police halted their pursuit due to safety concerns and notified neighboring towns, authorities said.

A short time later the BMW was seen driving south on Route 35 by Seaside Heights police, who observed it was going 118 mph in a 35 mph zone. Toms River police, who were on the westbound side of the J. Stanley Tunney Bridge, saw the BMW still speeding as it headed west on Route 37. Those officers followed from a distance but did not pursue the car for safety reasons, authorities said.

As it reached the intersection with Route 166, the BMW ran a red light, crashing into the Camry. Police tried to render aid but Fiore and Kiley Armstrong, who was the front-seat passenger, had died, authorities said. The back seat passengers, Krista Armstrong, Kiley's twin sister, and Ryan Chapman, 19, were severely injured and were taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune. Both were released from the hospital two weeks after the crash and are continuing to physically recover.

Martinez was not injured but two passengers in the BMW were and both were treated and released, authorities said at the time.

Previous reporting

• 2 Die In Route 37 Crash In Toms River As Unlicensed Teen Drove 118 MPH: Prosecutor
• Support Pours In For Families Of Victims In Fatal Route 37 Crash In Toms River
• 'Always Together': Route 37 Crash Victims Were Planning Futures, Families Say
• Funeral Set For 'Inseparable' Couple Killed In Route 37 Crash In Toms River
• Community Envelopes Families Of Couple Killed In Route 37 Crash