BEL AIR, MD (August 27, 2019) – Harford County State’s Attorney, Albert J. Peisinger, Jr. has announced that Carloo Watson was indicted today by a Harford County Grand Jury with two counts of Gross Negligence Manslaughter by Motor Vehicle, two counts of Criminal Negligence Manslaughter by Motor Vehicle, and four counts of Causing Serious Injury while Using a Cell Phone. The indictment stems from an incident involving a tractor trailer, driven by Mr. Watson, which crashed through eleven cars that were stopped on southbound Rt. 24 at the intersection with Ring Factory Road on the morning of March 11, 2019. As a result of the crash, 65 year old Andrew Klein and 7 year old Tripp Johnson, both residents of Harford County, were killed. Four other individuals were also seriously injured.
Gross Negligence Manslaughter by Motor Vehicle is a felony that carries a maximum penalty of 10 years incarceration with a $5,000.00 fine. Criminal Negligence Manslaughter by Motor Vehicle is a misdemeanor that carries a penalty of 3 years incarceration with a $5,000.00 fine. Causing Serious Injury while Using a Cell Phone is a traffic offense that carries a maximum penalty of 1 year incarceration with a $5,000.00 fine.
State’s Attorney Peisinger thanks the Maryland State Police for their investigation of the incident along with the multiple first responder agencies who assisted with the scene and the resulting investigation.
A criminal indictment is merely an accusation of wrongdoing, and a defendant is presumed innocent until the State proves the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.