According to authorities, a 20-year-old James Madison University student is responsible for a car accident that killed his three passengers last month in Maryland. The student was driving east on Olney-Laytonsville Road when his vehicle left the road, striking two trees and a utility pole. An 18-year-old passenger died at the scene, and the 18-year-old and 20-year-old passengers later died in the hospital from their injuries. Police charged the driver with four felony counts.
After the crash, the suspect left the accident scene without checking on his friends or calling police. Police spotted him running through the woods and ordered him to stop. He continued to a friend’s house, who then returned him to his own house where police arrested him. Police said he had bloodshot eyes and the odor of alcohol on his breath.
Prosecutors said the suspect attended two parties before the accident and witnesses saw him drinking alcohol. He now faces charges of failure to immediately return and remain at an accident scene involving bodily injury, failure to immediately stop at an accident scene involving death, failure to render reasonable assistance to an injured person and failure to report the accident to police.
If convicted, the 20-year-old could spend up to 11 years in prison.
Auto crashes can cause severe injury and death. An experienced Maryland personal injury lawyer at Koonz, McKenney, Johnson & DePaolis can tell you what to do after a car accident. It is important to preserve your rights to give you the best chance at a successful financial recovery. Contact a skilled Maryland personal injury attorney for a free consultation. Attorney Justin Beall is ready to speak with you.