Hit-And-Run Driver Convicted in Fatal Baltimore Washington Parkway Crash

Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas M. DiGirolamo convicted Earl Howard Teeter, Jr., age 73, of Hyattsville, Maryland today of operating a vehicle without due care, after Teeter pleaded guilty to failing to stop after driving a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in death.  Both charges were in connection with a February 1, 2015 fatal hit and run crash that took place on the Baltimore Washington Parkway.

The conviction was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein and Chief of Police Robert D. MacLean of the U.S. Park Police.

“If not for the exceptional detective work by the U.S. Park Police, this crime would have gone unsolved,” said U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein.

 According to evidence presented at today’s trial, on February 1, 2015 at approximately 9:00 p.m., Rick Warrick, age 38, of Washington, D.C. was driving northbound on the Baltimore Washington Parkway when his driver’s side front tire became flat.   Mr. Warrick pulled onto the highway shoulder and activated his hazard lights.  His fiancé and a minor male, who were passengers in the car, held flashlights while Mr. Warrick changed the tire.

While changing the tire, a vehicle struck Mr. Warrick, and seriously injured his fiancé.  The minor male was knocked to the ground, but was not injured.  The vehicle failed to stop.  Mr. Warrick was transported to a hospital and pronounced dead.  His fiancé was transported to another hospital and treated for her injuries.

Further investigation of vehicle fragments and parts from the crash led U.S. Park Police detectives to Teeter, who owned a 2004 Toyota Sienna van.  Detectives met with Teeter.  Teeter said he was driving northbound on the Parkway on February 1, 2015 when he hit something as he changed lanes.  Teeter also said he had seen a vehicle on the side of the road but was unsure what he had struck.  According to Teeter, he had taken his vehicle to a body shop for repair after being involved in a collision, and notified his insurance company that he had struck something on the night of February 1, 2015. The vehicle was seized from the repair shop.

Teeter faces a maximum sentence of six months in prison for each of the two offenses. Magistrate Judge DiGirolamo has scheduled sentencing for January 20, 2016.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the Park Police for its work in the investigation and thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Hollis R. Weisman, who is prosecuting the case.