Accokeek, MDThe Washington Post called it one of the worst car accidents in state history. In the early hours of February 16, 2008, two drivers became involved in an illegal street race on Route 210, mowing down and killing eight bystanders. The Post reported on 3/2/10 that one of the two drivers was sentenced to 15 years in prison. The other will be retried on vehicular manslaughter counts on October 18.
According to state prosecutors, Darren Bullock and Tavon Taylor were racing each other just after 3 am in a white Ford Crown Victoria and a green Mercury Marquis, respectively. Unbeknownst to the two drivers, a group of people had wandered onto the road on their way back from watching a different street race. Bullock, who had taken the lead, plowed into the group, killing eight.
Prince George's County Circuit Court Judge Michael P. Whalen sentenced Bullock to 15 years in prison, a term that was part of a plea deal.
Taylor was also charged with eight counts of vehicular homicide as well as two traffic violations, but the jury at deadlocked after 15 hours of deliberation on the manslaughter counts. He was convicted of the two traffic offences.
State Attorney Glenn Ivey said in his opening statement that Taylor's car did not hit any of the victims, but that he nonetheless shared responsibility for the deaths because of his participation in the race. However, in closing statements, prosecutors pointed to evidence that Taylor's car had, in fact, hit two victims after they had been knocked to the ground.
Taylor will be re-tried in the fall. Bullock pleaded guilty to the part he played in the car accident.
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