Kevin Eugene Luther, 43, of Lexington Park
UPDATE 1-17-2024: State’s Attorney Jaymi Sterling announced today that Kevin Eugene Luther, 43, of Lexington Park, Maryland, was sentenced to 20 years in prison with 12 years of active incarceration for two counts of manslaughter by motor vehicle for a crash that tragically took the lives of two victims.
On August 31, 2021, at approximately 6:50 p.m., Luther was traveling northbound in the southbound lanes of Pegg Road at speeds between 89 and 92 miles per hour when he struck the victims’ vehicle head-on. Luther’s blood alcohol content was 0.21 grams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood, more than twice the legal limit of 0.08 grams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood. Both occupants of the victims’ vehicle succumbed to their injuries on-scene.
At the sentencing hearing, the State asked the Court to impose the maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The Maryland Sentencing Guidelines called for a sentence between one and ten years. The Court went above the guidelines and sentenced the Defendant to 20 years in prison with 12 years of active incarceration.
“Drunk driving is a crime that is entirely preventable and has devastating effects on members of our community and their families. Our office will continue to vigorously prosecute those who make the choice to endanger the lives of others,” said State’s Attorney Sterling, “My thoughts are with the loved ones of the victims, whose lives were senselessly and tragically taken.”
Sergeant Justin Zimmerman of the Maryland State Police Crash Team was the lead investigator.
Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Lisa Ridge handled the sentencing hearing on behalf of the citizens of St. Mary’s County.
The Honorable Amy D. Lorenzini presided over the case.
UPDATE 9-16-2022: Maryland State Police arrested a man who was indicted this week in connection to a fatal four-vehicle crash that killed two people last year in St. Mary’s County.
The driver and passenger of the Nissan Rogue, identified as Sherish Lynn Guthrie, 53, and Hilda Gale Kanney, 73, both of Lexington Park, were both declared deceased at the scene.
The suspect, Kevin Eugene Luther, 42, of Lexington Park, Maryland was indicted on Tuesday by a grand jury in St. Mary’s County. An arrest warrant was issued and Luther was taken into custody without incident on Thursday at his residence. Troopers from the Leonardtown Barrack, CED-Central South, CED-Firearms Enforcement Unit, the STATE Team and the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force assisted with the arrest.
Luther is charged with two counts of negligent manslaughter, two counts of vehicular homicide while impaired and related offenses. He is being held at the St. Mary’s County Detention Center pending an initial appearance before a District Court commissioner.
The charges stem from a crash that occurred at 6:50 p.m. on Aug. 31, 2021. On that date, troopers from the Maryland State Police Leonardtown Barrack responded to Pegg Road in the area of Spring Valley Drive
in Lexington Park, Maryland for a report of a multi-vehicle crash. Due to the seriousness of the incident, the Maryland State Police Crash Team, which investigated the case, was also called to the scene.
According to investigators, an Audi S4, driven by Luther, crashed head-on with a Nissan Rogue in the center turn lane of Pegg Road. The Nissan then sideswiped a Ford Escape, which overturned. As the Ford overturned, it struck another Nissan.
The driver and passenger of the Nissan Rogue, identified as Sherish Lynn Guthrie, 53, and Hilda Gale Kanney, 73, both of Lexington Park, Maryland, were declared deceased at the scene. Luther was transported to MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital for treatment of his injuries. The road was closed for about four hours following the crash.
UPDATE 9-1-2021: Maryland State Police are investigating a fatal four-vehicle crash that occurred Tuesday evening in St, Mary’s County.
At approximately 6:50 p.m., troopers from the Maryland State Police Leonardtown Barrack responded to Pegg Road in the area of Spring Valley Drive in Lexington Park, for a report of a multi-vehicle crash. Due to the seriousness of the incident, the Maryland State Police Crash Team was also called to the scene.
According to a preliminary investigation, an Audi S4 crashed head-on with a Nissan Rogue in the center turn lane of Pegg Road. The Nissan then sideswiped a Ford Escape, which overturned. As the Ford overturned, it struck another Nissan.
The driver and passenger of the Nissan Rogue, identified as Sherish Lynn Guthrie, 53, and Hilda Gale Kanney, 73, both of Lexington Park, Maryland, were declared deceased at the scene. The driver of the Audi, a male, was taken to MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital for treatment of his injuries.
The road was closed for about four hours following the crash.
The Maryland State Police Crash Team is continuing to investigate the fatal crash. Once that investigation is complete, the findings will be turned over to the St. Mary’s County State’s Attorney’s Office, who will determine what charges may be filed in this case.
________________
The suspect driver in that incident, Duane Monroe Reese, 24, of Lexington Park, was cited for driving under the influence and reckless driving. Reese was also charged with illegal possession of a handgun, illegal possession of a loaded handgun, illegal possession of a handgun in a vehicle and illegal possession of a loaded handgun in a vehicle. Reese was taken to the Leonardtown Barrack before being transferred to the St. Mary’s County Detention Center for processing.
8/31/2021: On Tuesday, August 31, 2021 at approximately 6:45 p.m., police and firefighters responded to Pegg Road in the area of Spring Valley Drive in Lexington Park, for a serious motor vehicle accident.
First responders arrived on scene to find four vehicles involved in the crash, with five patients.
A Maryland State Police Trooper helicopter was originally requested, but was returned to service a short time later.
Two occupants of one vehicle were pronounced deceased at the scene., and four other patients were transported to the MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital.
The fourth vehicle involved reported no injuries.
Members of the Maryland State Police responded to the scene and are continuing the investigation.
Pegg Road and Spring Valley Drive will be closed for an extended period of time while the scene is under investigation.
