Route 37 Crash: Teen Charged as Adult After Couple’s Death in Toms River

Carlos D. Martinez of Toms River

According to Ocean County Prosecutors Office, an 18-year-old Toms River resident will face charges in adult court related to a March collision on Route 37 that claimed the lives of a young couple and seriously injured two more.

According to the Asbury Park Press, Carlos D. Martinez, who was 17 years old when the March 7 crash claimed the lives of 23-year-old Evan Fiore and 21-year-old Kiley Armstrong, agreed to have the charges against him dropped out of juvenile court.

According to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer, 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 without a license, two counts of causing injury while driving without a license, two counts of aggravated assault manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life, eluding, and four counts of assault by auto.

Shortly after, a conflict led to the case being moved to the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office, according to authorities.

According to authorities, the BMW struck a Fiore-driven Toyota Camry at the crossroads of Route 37 and Route 166 at 10:58 p.m.

The BMW was initially spotted by Toms River police officers at approximately 10:45 p.m. traveling east at a high pace across the Thomas A. Mathis Bridge into Seaside Heights.

According to authorities, Toms River police stopped their chase because of safety concerns and alerted nearby communities after attempting to pull over the vehicle, which continued to travel north on Route 35 toward Lavallette.

Shortly after, Seaside Heights police noticed the BMW traveling south on Route 35, where it was traveling at 118 mph in a 35 mph zone. The BMW continued to speed as it traveled west on Route 37, according to Toms River police on the westbound side of the J. Stanley Tunney Bridge. According to investigators, the officers watched from a distance but chose not to pursue the vehicle for safety.

The BMW ran a red light at the crossroads with Route 166 and collided with the Camry. According to authorities, Fiore and Kiley Armstrong, the front-seat passenger, had passed away when police attempted to provide assistance.

Ryan Chapman, 19, and Kiley's twin sister, Krista Armstrong, were transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune after suffering serious injuries. Two weeks following the collision, both were discharged from the hospital and are still recuperating physically.

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