Tuesday, May 25, 2021
John Patti, WBAL News Radio 1090 and FM101.5 | Original Source: https://www.wbal.com/article/515724/2/nsa-employee-indicted-in-fatal-crash-alleged-to-have-been-taking-selfie
A Baltimore County Grand Jury has returned a seven-count indictment against Dylan Shields for causing the death of 30-year-old Luke Souders of Catonsville on Jan. 19, 2021. Souders was killed on I-95 near the southwest side of the Baltimore Beltway.
Baltimore County State's Attorney Scott Shellenberger says the indictment charges Shields with a number of counts, including negligent manslaughter, criminally negligent manslaughter, and use of a hand-held device causing an accident that resulted in death.
Shellenberger believes the evidence is "pretty compelling" to prove that a hand-held device was being used right when the accident occurred.
Shellenberger says the reason it is against the law to use a hand-held device while driving is because your attention is completely distracted. The defendant is an employee of NSA but Shellenberger says that has not played any role in the case.
If convicted, Shields could face several years in jail. Shellenberger says while a conviction for use of a hand-held device during an accident causing a death carries a maximum penalty of one year in jail, punishment for negligent manslaughter is "several years" in jail. Shellenberger says a recommendation on punishment will be left up to the actual prosecutors in this case.
A trial date has not yet been set.