Man charged in fatal hit-and-run

November 15, 2005|by ERIN CUNNINGHAM

FREDERICK, Md. - A Frederick man was charged with manslaughter and other offenses Monday stemming from the death of a motorcyclist Sunday, the Frederick County Sheriff's Office said.

James Joseph Mervinsky, 40, was charged with manslaughter, negligent driving, two counts of failure to remain at the scene of an accident with injuries, fleeing and eluding police, attempting to elude police and driving while impaired, deputies said.

Mervinsky was fleeing from police when he drove his vehicle into the path of John Wayne Adkins, 28, of Middletown, Md., who was riding a motorcycle south on Md. 85 near Buckeystown, Md., deputies said. Adkins died at the scene.

Mervinsky was seen driving erratically Sunday afternoon near Crestwood Boulevard by a deputy, police said. Mervinsky was in the left turn lane, but drove straight onto Shockley Drive, nearly crashing into another vehicle.

Mervinsky drove onto Md. 85, driving south in the north lane of traffic and driving into oncoming traffic at a high rate, deputies said.

When a deputy attempted to pull him over, Mervinsky fled south on Md. 85, passing through Buckeystown, police said.

Near Paprika Court, Mervinsky drove into the north lane of traffic, where he crashed into Adkins' motorcycle, deputies said. After hitting the motorcycle, the left front tire of Mervinsky's truck was torn off, but he continued to drive on three wheels south on Md. 85, deputies said.

About one mile past Paprika Court, near Md. 85 and Adamstown Road, Mervinsky lost control of his truck and drove off the north shoulder of the road, crashing into an embankment, deputies said.

He refused to follow deputies' commands, and deputies broke the passenger side truck to reach Mervinsky, who police said was under the influence of alcohol.

U.S. Park Police Eagle No. 1 took the man, with police escort, to Maryland University Shock Trauma in Baltimore for treatment of his injuries from the crash, police said.

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