Vigil in Manchester Township remembers 23-year-old killed in hit-and-run crash
Jeffrey Schlinger, 23, was riding his motorcycle eastbound when police say he was fatally struck by Yesmin Sanchez-Centeno, 22, who was also driving eastbound in a Nissan Murano.
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Family and friends of a 23-year-old killed by an alleged drunk driver in a hit-and-run remembered him during a vigil in Manchester Township on Sunday night.
They gathered for the vigil off Route 37, where police say the crash occurred on Thursday night.
Jeffrey Schlinger, 23, was riding his motorcycle eastbound when police say he was fatally struck by Yesmin Sanchez-Centeno, 22, who was also driving eastbound in a Nissan Murano.
Schlinger was taken to Community Medical Center in Toms River where he was pronounced dead.
Police say Centeno continued to drive away from the scene until his car gave out. He then tried to run away before officers took him into custody, according to authorities.
Police say he was under the influence at the time and did not even have a driver’s license. Centeno was charged with vehicular homicide, amongst other charges.
"Just don't drink and drive. It's not worth it. By taking one life, you hurt a lot of people. It's not just one person that suffers. This whole community of people that are out here today are suffering," said Erika Schlinger, sister of the victim.
Jeffrey Schlinger's friend, Kyle Morris, said he was with him on the night of the incident.
"I was right behind him when the car flew out in front of us," Morris recalled. He said he was riding behind Schlinger in the right lane when he witnessed a car fly past him and strike his friend.
"I was in the right lane when the guy came out and, for some reason, he missed me and ended up hitting Jeff instead in the left lane," Morris said.
Schlinger's sister urged motorists to think twice before getting on the road after drinking alcohol.
"Call a friend, call an Uber, walk. There's just no reason to ever get behind the wheel," she said.
A GoFundMe is raising funds for Schlinger’s funeral costs.
