Matthew Mark Mazza, age 27 of Lexington Park
UPDATE 9/28/2023: State’s Attorney Jaymi Sterling announced today that Matthew Mark Mazza, 28, of Lexington Park, Maryland, was sentenced to the maximum penalty of ten years in prison for the felony manslaughter by motor vehicle that tragically took the life of an 18-year-old victim.
On July 9, 2022, at approximately 3:35 am, deputies from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to a motor vehicle collision.
Preliminary investigation determined that a 2012 Chevrolet Silverado, operated by Mr. Mazza, was traveling on Willows Road when it struck the rear end of a 2015 Ford Focus, operated by Jamari Tyrese Duckett, age 18 of Great Mills, Maryland. Mr. Duckett was transported to an area hospital in critical condition and succumbed to his injuries on Sunday, July 10, 2022.
Evidence showed that seconds before the crash, Mr. Mazza was driving at speeds between 76 MPH and 91 MPH in a 40 MPH zone. A blood test proved Mr. Mazza’s blood alcohol concentration level was 0.13 grams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood.
The legal limit is 0.08 grams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood.
“While my office fought for and received the maximum penalty allowable by law, justice demands more. When drunk driving at extreme speeds steals the life of a young man, ten years is never enough. I will not stop until the penalty for this crime accounts for its devastation. With the support of Jamari’s family, I will be partnering with Senator Jack Bailey and Delegate Brian Crosby to change this law to increase the maximum penalty,” said State’s Attorney Jaymi Sterling.
At the sentencing hearing, the State requested Mr. Mazza be sentenced to the maximum penalty of ten years in prison. The Maryland Sentencing Guidelines called for a sentence between three months and four years. The Court imposed ten years, which is the maximum sentence allowable by law.
Assistant State’s Attorney Joseph Boyd prosecuted the case on behalf of the citizens of St. Mary’s County. Corporal Brandon Foor of the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office was the lead investigator.
The Honorable Amy D. Lorenzini presided over the case.
UPDATE 7/10/2022: On Saturday, July 9, 2022, at approximately 3:35 am, patrol deputies from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to a motor vehicle collision in the area of Willows Road and Abberly Crest Lane in Lexington Park.
Deputies arrived on scene and observed a rear-end style motor vehicle collision with one operator unresponsive.
Due to the severity of the collision, the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office Collision Reconstruction Unit was requested.
Members of the Reconstruction Unit responded to the scene and assumed the investigation.
Preliminary investigation determined that a 2012 Chevrolet Silverado, operated by Matthew Mark Mazza, age 27 of Lexington Park, was traveling northbound on Willows Road in the area of Abberly Crest Lane when it struck the rear end of a 2015 Ford Focus, which was operated by Jamari Tyrese Duckett, age 18 of Great Mills.
Duckett was transported to an area hospital in critical condition, but later succumbed to his injuries on Sunday, July 10, 2022.
At this time, speed and alcohol appear to be contributing factors.
Mazza has been charged with the following below, and is being held on a no bond status. His residence is listed as Morning Dew Lane, located under an 1/8 mile from the collision scene.
- LIFE THRT INJ/VEH-BOAT/IUNDER
- LIFE THRT INJ/VEH-BOAT/IMPAIRE
- CAUSE LIFE THRT INJRY-DRIV/OPE
- (DRIVING, ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE) VEHICLE WHILE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL
- (DRIVING, ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE) VEH. WHILE IMPAIRED BY ALCOHOL
- RECKLESS DRIVING
- NEGLIGENT DRIVING
- FAILURE TO CONTROL VEH. SPEED ON HWY. TO AVOID COLLISION
Anyone who may have witnessed the collision or any events leading up to it and has not already provided a statement is asked to call Cpl. Brandon Foor at 301-475-4200, ext. 72265 or email [email protected].
7/9/2022: On Saturday, July 9, 2022, at approximately 3:35 a.m., police, fire and rescue personnel responded to the area of Willows Road and Bradley Boulevard in Lexington Park, for the motor vehicle collision reported serious with one victim trapped and unconscious.
Crews arrived on the scene to find two vehicles in the roadway involved in a rear-end style collision with the operator of the sedan unresponsive.
Firefighters removed the victim from the vehicle in under 5 minutes.
A helicopter was requested for the victims injuries, however, all were down due to weather.
The victim was transported by ambulance to an area hospital with serious injuries.
Deputies from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office responded and are investigating the collision.
Updates will be provided when they become available.
Matthew Mark Mazza, age 27 of Lexington Park
