Teen Who Was Drunk, Fled Fatal Route 37 Motorcycle Crash, Is Sentenced

TOMS RIVER, NJ — An 18-year-old from Toms River has been sentenced to the custody of the New Jersey Juvenile Justice Commission for leaving the scene of a motorcycle crash that killed a Toms River man, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office announced.

Yesmin Sanchez-Centeno, 18, of Toms River, was sentenced by Superior Court Judge Sean D. Gertner to 20 months in the custody of the commission, Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said.

Sanchez-Centeno, who was sentenced on Monday, had pleaded guilty to knowingly leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death and strict liability vehicular homicide in the Aug. 3, 2023 crash in Manchester that killed Jeffrey S. Schlinger, Billhimer said.

In addition to the 20 months in custody, Gernter imposed a two-year suspension of Sanchez-Centeno's driving privileges, along with mandatory fines and penalties, for his guilty plea to driving under the influence of alcohol, Billhimer said.

Schlinger was riding a 2007 Yamaha motorcycle east on Route 37 about 10 p.m. on Aug. 3 when a 2005 Nissan Murano driven by Sanchez-Centeno pulled out onto Route 37 in Manchester 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.

Schlinger suffered serious injuries and later succumbed to them at Community Medical Center, authorities said.

After the crash, Sanchez-Centeno, who was 17 at the time, kept driving east on Route 37 until the Nissan would no longer drive, then he got out and ran into the woods, authorities said.

Manchester police officers found him and administered standardized field sobriety tests, all of which he failed, Billhimer said. Sanchez-Centeno was taken to Community Medical Center and a sample of his blood was drawn pursuant to a court-authorized warrant, Billhimer said.

Authorities have not released the results of the blood alcohol analysis. Sanchez-Centeno has been held at a juvenile detention facility since his arrest, Billhimer said.

Authorities initially said Sanchez-Centeno lied about his identity, telling them he was 22 years old. Read more: Teen Lied About ID In Fatal Route 37 Motorcycle Crash: Prosecutor

Chief Juvenile Attorney Anthony Pierro and Assistant Prosecutor Brandon DeJesus handled the case on behalf of the state. The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Vehicular Homicide Squad, Manchester Township Police Department, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit collaborated in the investigation.