Smithsburg Father And His Teenage Daughter Die In Hit-And-Run Accident In Maryland

Nicholas Sabath and his 17-year-old daughter Sylvia were killed last Wednesday night on Leitersburg Pike near Antietam Creek Bridge.

According to police, Sabath was driving westbound on Md 60 in a 1989 Honda Accord when he tried to avoid a Pontiac Sunfire that crossed the center line east of Lehman. Sabath lost control of the car and drove into the path of a 1992 Jeep Wrangler driven by Hagerstown resident John C. Pangborn, 19, who was headed eastward.

Pangborn was treated at Washington County Hospital for injuries.

Police say that the driver of the dark blue Pontiac Sunfire, which fled the accident scene, caused the car collision.

A hit and run charge is a very serious charge—especially if a person has been injured as a result.

Hit and Run Laws in Maryland

§ 20-102. Driver to remain at scene – Accidents resulting in bodily injury or death.

(a) The driver of each vehicle involved in an accident that results in bodily injury to or death of another person immediately shall stop the vehicle as close as possible to the scene of the accident, without obstructing traffic more than necessary.

(b) The driver of each vehicle involved in an accident that results in bodily injury to or death of another person immediately shall return to and remain at the scene of the accident until the driver has complied with § 20-104 of this title.

[An. Code 1957, art. 661/2, § 10-102; 1977, ch. 14, § 2; 1986, ch. 472, § 1; 1988, ch. 6, § 1; 1991, ch. 346, § 1; 1998, ch. 781; 2001, ch. 483; 2002, chs. 461, 462.] § 27-113. Violation of § 20-102 of this article.
(a) Serious bodily injury defined.- in this section, “serious bodily injury” means an injury that:
(1) Creates a substantial risk of death;
(2) Causes serious permanent or serious protracted disfigurement;
(3) Causes serious permanent or serious protracted loss of the function of any body part, organ, or mental faculty; or

(4) Causes serious permanent or serious protracted impairment of the function of any bodily member or organ.

(b) Penalty for serious bodily injury.- A person who violates § 20-102 of this article (“Driver to remain at scene – Accident resulting in bodily injury or death”) and who knew or reasonably should have known that the accident might result in serious bodily injury to another person and serious bodily injury actually occurred to another person, is guilty of a felony and on conviction is subject to imprisonment for not more than 5 years or a fine of not more than $5,000 or both.

(c) Penalty for death.- A person who violates § 20-102 of this article (“Driver to remain at scene – Accident resulting in bodily injury or death”) and who knew or reasonably should have known that the accident might result in the death of another person and death actually occurred to another person, is guilty of a felony and on conviction is subject to imprisonment for not more than 10 years or a fine of not more than $10,000 or both.
[2002, chs. 461, 462.] § 5-106. Prosecution for misdemeanors; manslaughter by automobile, motorboat, etc.; homicide by motor vehicle.

(p) Manslaughter by automobile, motorboat, etc.; homicide by motor vehicle; stopping at scene of accident.- A prosecution for an offense under Title 2, Subtitle 5 or § 2-209 of the Criminal Law Article or § 20-102 of the Transportation Article shall be instituted within 3 years after the offense was committed.

If you have been seriously injured in a hit and run accident or someone you love has been injured by a hit and run driver, there are legal remedies available to you so you can pursue compensatory damages for your injuries, suffering, recovery, and loss.

Lebowitz and Mzhen is a personal injury law firm that represents clients throughout the Maryland and Washington D.C. area who have been injured or killed in a hit and run car accident, or any other personal injury accident resulting from another’s negligence.

Please give us a call at 1-888-311-HURT or e-mail Lebowitz and Mzhen for your free consultation.

Father, Daughter Killed In Crash, Herald-Mail, March 8, 2007
Smithsburg Teen, Father Killed In Accident, NBC 25, March 8, 2007
Hit and Run Laws in Maryland, Deadly Roads.com

Related Web Resource:

Injury and Accident Overview, Justia.com

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