Maryland Car Accident Attorney Blog
A Maryland man was convicted recently of vehicular manslaughter stemming from a traffic accident last January that killed a Baltimore woman and severely injured her boyfriend. The defendant, Christopher Nelson, will face up to a year and a half in jail when he goes before a court in October for sentencing. As a Maryland car accident lawyer, I am committed to my clients. Although this man will be sentenced in October, the pain and suffering continues for the families of the victims.
The defendant was reportedly drunk when the crash occurred last January 8. Although he pleased guilty and claims to be sorry for the incident, that’s cold comfort for these victims. One person is dead and another suffered life-threatening injuries the physical and emotional scars from which will more than likely stay with him for many years to come.
According to reports, the 26-year-old Nelson was driving while intoxicated when he crashed his car head-on into a southbound vehicle on Baltimore-Annapolis Boulevard in Pasadena. Elizabeth Meryl Fowler, 54, died in the wreck and her boyfriend, 45-year-old Steven Desombre, received multiple injuries to the head, chest and hip that required him to spend a month in a Baltimore hospital.
According to family members, Fowler had picked up Desombre from work near Baltimore and gone to the Box N’ Save grocery store in Glen Burnie to stock up on food prior to the accident. Fowler reportedly was driving south on Baltimore-Annapolis Boulevard near Old Mill Road just before 8pm. Heading north on the same roadway, Nelson lost control of his car while rounding a curve. His 2002 Subaru Impreza crossed the southbound lane, ran into the guardrail and bounced into Fowler’s 1990 Honda Accord.
Fowler was taken to Baltimore Washington Medical Center in Glen Burnie where she was pronounced dead. Desombre and Nelson were taken to Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore where they were treated and eventually released.
News reports say that police reconstructed the wreck and determined Nelson was driving 77 mph in a 40mph zone. A subsequent blood test revealed the Nelson had a blood-alcohol content (BAC) of 0.17 — more than twice the legal limit in Maryland.
Nelson pleaded guilty yesterday to one count of auto manslaughter and one count of causing life threatening injuries while intoxicated. In exchange for the plea, prosecutors dropped other charges and agreed to seek a sentence no longer than 18 months.
Man guilty in fatal Pasadena crash, HometownGlenBurnie.com, August 22, 2009