On Tuesday, May 17, 2022, at 10:10 p.m., Southern District officers responded to Davidsonville Road at Kings Retreat Road for a crash involving a pedestrian.
The investigation revealed that a 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee was traveling southbound on Davidsonville Road approaching Palomino Court. Davidsonville Road is undergoing repaving and construction crews were on scene limiting traffic to one lane of travel.
The driver of the Jeep struck an occupied 2022 Honda Accord, which was stopped at a flagger’s stop sign. The Jeep failed to remain at the scene and continued traveling southbound on Davidsonville Road towards the intersection of Kings Retreat Drive where road crew flaggers were assisting with traffic control.
Multiple witnesses on the road crew observed the driver attempt to make a right turn onto Kings Retreat Drive striking a pedestrian flagger who was standing in the intersection. The Jeep continued forward leaving the roadway and striking the community sign disabling the vehicle.
The pedestrian flagger was wearing a high visibility reflective vest and high visibility reflective pants. The pedestrian received life-threatening injuries and was flown to MedStar Washington Hospital Center where she was pronounced deceased.
Due to roadside observations, field sobriety tests were administered to the driver of the Jeep and he was subsequently taken into custody for further testing. The driver was determined to be under the influence of alcohol and placed under arrest.
After consultation with the Anne Arundel County States Attorney Office, the driver was charged with multiple charges related to this crash to include:
- 2-209 – Negligent Manslaughter
- 2-210 – Criminally Neg Manslaughter
- 2-503 – Homicide by MV While Under the Influence of Alcohol
- 2-504 – Homicide by MV While Impaired by Alcohol
- 21-902a – DUI
- 21-902a2 – DUI, per se
- 21-902b – DWI
- 20-103a – Driver to remain at scene – stopping vehicle at scene of an accident
- 20-103b – Driver to remain at scene – return and remain at scene of an accident.
- 21-901.3b – Death of a vulnerable individual
- 21-901.1a – Reckless driving
- 21-901.1b – Negligent driving
Vehicle 1: 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee MD Reg: 94988CE, operated by Christopher Jonathan Asher, 48 years-old of Davidsonville, MD. Asher suffered no injuries.
Vehicle 2: 2022 Honda Accord MD Reg:55044CK, operated by Roselain Chaerazard, 30 years-old of Columbia, MD. Chaerazard suffered no injuries.
Pedestrian: Lizeth Guzman, 56 years-old of Baltimore, MD, suffered fatal injuries.
