Crime & Safety

Columbia Man Gets 18 Months in Fatal Accident

Howard County Circuit Court Judge Timothy McCrone described the driver's actions as "thoughtless, reckless and grossly negligent."

 

A 23-year-old Columbia man was sentenced to 18 months in jail on Wednesday for his role in a 2010 car accident that killed two people on Route 175 near Tamar Drive. 

Joseph Gary Lawrence, 23, of Rivendell Lane in Columbia, did not contest the charges of two counts of automobile manslaughter when he entered a plea in April.

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, Lawrence was driving a 2004 Saturn Ion westbound on Route 175  with a passenger, Matthew James Miranda, 22, of Columbia, when his car crossed the median strip and collided head-on with a 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan. The Caravan was traveling in the eastbound lane, according to Wayne Kirwan, a spokesperson for the Howard County State’s Attorney’s Office.

A third vehicle was struck by the van and a fourth was damaged by debris from the collision.

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Miranda was ejected from the vehicle during the collision and was transported to Howard County General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The driver of the Caravan, Urooj Zehra Isfahani, 35, of Columbia, was also transported to Howard County General where she was pronounced dead.

Lawrence and the driver of the third vehicle struck were transported to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore and were later released.

Lawrence suffered two broken ankles and internal stomach injuries as a result of the collision, according to the statement of the facts from the case.

An expert in traffic reconstruction determined Lawrence was traveling between 68 and 74 mph on a spare tire in an area with a 55 mph speed limit when the accident occurred, according to the report. 

Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Claude deVastey-Jones called the collision “catastrophic” and described Lawrence’s speed and failure to control his vehicle “so inappropriate,” according to Kirwan.

Howard County Circuit Court Judge Timothy J. McCrone characterized Lawrence’s actions as “thoughtless, reckless and grossly negligent” and then sentenced Lawrence to a five-year term, suspending all but 18 months, and five years supervised probation once he is released, according to Kirwan.


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