Man reversed car into tent holding kid's birthday party, killing woman and trapping victims underneath: Authorities

A antheral successful Maryland has learned his punishment for crashing into a kid's day party, which killed a pistillate and trapped others underneath his car, and past leaving, authorities say.

Sunday Joseph, 66, has been sentenced to 10 years successful situation aft pleading blameworthy to nonaccomplishment to stay astatine the country of an mishap "where the operator knew oregon should person known that decease occurred" and 14 counts of reckless driving, the Prince George's County State's Attorney's Office announced connected Thursday.

The clang took the beingness of 31-year-old Ashley Hernandez Gutierrez.

On Oct. 18, 2025, Hernandez Gutierrez and astatine slightest 13 different radical were wrong a structure successful the beforehand gait of a location connected Annapolis Road successful Bladensburg, Maryland, a municipality conscionable northeast of Washington, D.C. They were gathered for a child's day enactment meant to beryllium "a joyful nighttime of celebration," a GoFundMe acceptable up for the unfortunate stated.

As the household celebrated, Joseph had reversed his car on the roadway "when helium jumped the curb and crashed" into the tent, the state's attorney's bureau recounted.

After crashing, Joseph turned the car off, grabbed the keys, and ran away, determination NBC affiliate WRC reported. According to authorities, radical were trapped underneath, and the conveyance had to beryllium lifted to prevention them.

Hernandez Gutierrez was killed, portion astatine slightest 8 children and 5 adults were injured, according to the prosecutorial agency. Law enforcement responded, but Joseph was not there.

Prosecutors reportedly suggested that Joseph whitethorn person been nether the power earlier and during the clang but that they couldn't beryllium it due to the fact that helium had near the scene. The defendant's lawyer mentioned that helium has a aesculapian information that causes his legs to consciousness numb, suggesting that could person been the origin of the crash.

About 10 hours later, Joseph turned himself successful to instrumentality enforcement.

By sentencing Joseph to 10 years successful prison, the justice gave him much than authorities sentencing guidelines and the state's recommendation, per the section outlet. He is besides not allowed to thrust and indispensable execute 8 hours of assemblage work connected each day of the crash.

Still, families of the victims told WRC that the condemnation wasn't enough.

"I'm suffering from slump and traumatic things," 1 said. "I can't adjacent slumber astatine nighttime due to the fact that of this incident. I don't adjacent privation to beryllium down the wheel, to beryllium honest, anymore."

"Children looking astatine day parties volition ne'er look astatine day parties the same," stated another. "They ever deliberation it's going to beryllium a tragedy, and it's not fair."

Before his plea, Joseph was acceptable to person a assemblage proceedings successful June, tribunal records reviewed by Law&Crime show.

"This devastating lawsuit has near the full household heartbroken and struggling to comprehend however specified a calamity could hap during what was meant to beryllium a joyful nighttime of celebration," the fundraiser acceptable up for Hernandez Gutierrez stated. "Ashley was profoundly loved by each who knew her—her warmth, kindness, and caring quality touched everyone astir her."