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A Franklin Lakes man and a Paramus woman allegedly lied to police after a fatal car accident that took place Tuesday night in Upper Saddle River, Bergen County Prosecutor John Molinelli said.

Witnesses saw two BMWs racing up Route 17 North at about 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, Molinelli said.

Salvatore Benanti, 26, was driving one of them, with Kelsi Tichacek, 19, in the passenger seat, Molinelli said. Their friend, Cameron Jalali-Arki, 26, of Rutherford, was driving the other vehicle.

Molinelli said the two cars were traveling at more than 100 mph, when Jalali-Arki lost control near 400 Route 17 North. The BMW traveled off the roadway several hundred feet before crashing into a parked trailer.

It stopped in the parking lot of Fazio's Moving and Storage, where police found Jalali-Arki dead.

NorthJersey.com reported that Jalali-Arki was a former Hillsdale police officer.

Benanti and Tichacek were at the scene, unharmed, when police arrived, Molinelli said. He added that there was no evidence the two cars ever made contact.

Police closed two lanes on Route 17 North for six hours while investigating the crash.

During the probe, Molinelli said, Benanti and Tichacek lied to police about what led to Jalali-Arki's death.

They were both charged with hindering apprehension. Benanti was also charged with reckless driving and racing on a highway, Molinelli said.

More charges may come, he added.

Tichacek was released on her own recognizance.

Benanti posted $10,000 bail.

http://paramus.patch.com/articles/pr...-route-17-race