Police and EMS were called to the area of 7th Street and Philadelphia Ave. in Ocean City on a reported collision between an automobile and a municipal bus. According to police, a municipal bus was traveling south on Philadelphia Avenue when a westbound car allegedly ran a stop sign and crashed into the bus. The vehicle then hit a parked vehicle and fled the scene.
Based on a description of the vehicle broadcast by an OCPD officer, a Worcester County Sheriff’s Deputy located the driver near 13th street. The Sheriff’s Deputy stopped the driver, who is alleged to have been drunk at the time of the accident. He was charged with DUI and multiple other charges. Police officers reported that they found assorted alcoholic beverages and suspected marijuana inside the man’s vehicle.
OCPD officers arrested the driver and charged him with a total of 17 different counts in relation to the accident. The charges against him include driving under the influence of alcohol, failing to remain at the scene of an injury accident, possession of marijuana, possession of paraphernalia and driving a vehicle in violation of an alcohol-restricted Maryland license. He appeared before the Court Commissioner and was released on an unsecured bond of $10,000.
The man is facing 17 charges, some of which are serious and may carry severe penalties if he is convicted of them. He may serve prison time, a long probation period or fines. He might benefit from the assistance of an experienced criminal defense lawyer. A lawyer might be able to help him prepare for court. In addition, a lawyer might be able to answer any questions he has about the trial process. In some cases, a lawyer may be able to come to a plea bargain or some other arrangement to avoid a trial. Plea bargains may come with a reduced sentence.
Source: The Dispatch, “Suspected Drunk Driver Runs Into Ocean City Bus“, Shawn J. Soper, June 07, 2013