A Maryland man accused of participating in a drag race that turned lethal in Montgomery County has been discovered responsible.

Noe Daniel Suriel, 29, of Silver Spring, was convicted of driving a motorcar in a race or pace contest and gross negligent manslaughter by motorcar on Thursday.

The Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office stated that on Sept. 6, 2019, Suriel, who was driving a Dodge Challenger, and drivers of two different automobiles had been racing on Georgia Avenue.

The race ended when all three automobiles struck a Honda Civic that was making an attempt to show to an entrance ramp to the Intercounty Connector. The crash killed the motive force of the Honda, recognized as Rene Antonio Hernandez Jr., 32, of Olney.

The investigation confirmed that within the minutes earlier than the crash, the Dodge Challenger pushed by Suriel and an Infiniti Q50S, pushed by Camilo Jose Ahumada Serje, 27, of Olney, had been dashing down the street. Footage from a Metrobus captured the 2 automobiles driving at excessive pace.

Shortly earlier than the crash, investigators stated Regino Andres Gonzalez Pena, 38, of Gaithersburg, joined the race in his Ford Explorer.

According to police, Suriel’s automobile made first contact with the rear of Hernandez’s automobile, swerving in entrance of it. Serje’s Infiniti then struck the Honda Civic, which then spun and was hit by the Ford Explorer Gonzalez Pena was driving.

Suriel was the one driver to not plead responsible. Prosecutors introduced a video from a Metrobus, displaying Suriel’s and Serje’s automobiles dashing by. There was additionally video taken from the passenger seat of Serje’s automobile.

Data taken from Serje’s automobile confirmed that it was going 106 mph 5 seconds earlier than the crash.

Both Suriel and Serje resist 10 years in jail; whereas Gonzalez Pena faces as much as 18 months.

“This should send a message to anyone who would consider the highly dangerous and potentially deadly act of drag racing at excessive speeds,” stated Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy. “Any driver participating in a race may be convicted of manslaughter by motor vehicle regardless of which vehicle is involved in a fatal collision,” McCarthy continued.

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