A Montgomery County judge ordered the man accused of driving the wrong way on I-270 and killing a Virginia mother and daughter to remain in jail without bond.
Judge Patrick Mays denied bond for Jose Caballero Nolasco, 32, of Germantown, at a Monday, Aug. 31, hearing in Montgomery County District Court, citing what WJLA reported as an "extreme disregard for everyone." Caballero Nolasco appeared via video.
The ruling came two days after the head-on collision on southbound I-270 south of Democracy Boulevard in Bethesda. As we reported Sept. 1, the crash killed Musammat Shamima Begum, 46, of Burke, Virginia, and her daughter Areebah Jahin, 23, of Alexandria, Virginia. Jahin was pronounced dead at the scene. Begum died later at Inova Fairfax Hospital.
Charging documents filed by Maryland State Police detail the moments before and after the collision. Troopers found no pre-impact skid marks and no evidence that either vehicle braked or swerved, according to WJLA.
A 911 caller had reported a Ford Mustang traveling northbound in the southbound lanes near River Road at approximately 6:43 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 30. The head-on crash with the family's Toyota Camry came minutes later.
Inside the Mustang, a trooper found an empty Corona beer can and a black bag holding several open and unopened cans of Corona, charging documents state. At Suburban Hospital, where Caballero Nolasco was treated for minor injuries, a trooper reported smelling a strong odor of alcohol on his breath. The trooper also noted bloodshot, glossy eyes and slurred speech.
A prosecutor told the court that after the crash, Caballero Nolasco had to hold onto a traffic barrier to keep from falling over, The Banner reported. Prosecutors said he admitted he had been drinking beer that day and that the cans found in the Mustang were what he had been drinking.
Caballero Nolasco faces five charges: two counts of negligent manslaughter by vehicle, two counts of homicide by motor vehicle while impaired by alcohol and one count of causing a life-threatening injury by vehicle while under the influence. Each manslaughter count carries up to 10 years. If convicted on all charges, he could face up to 23 years in prison, according to Fox 5.
His blood was drawn at approximately 8:20 p.m. the night of the crash. Results are still pending.
Defense attorney Sharon T. Diamant asked the judge to release Caballero Nolasco to family members with GPS monitoring. She said he is originally from El Salvador, has lived in the United States for about 10 years, works in construction and has no prior criminal record.
Diamant told Fox 5 after the hearing that her client "appeared to be in shock."
The Camry was driven by Mohammed Faruk Hossain, 62, the husband and father of the two women killed. He sustained minor injuries. An 8-year-old girl in the back seat suffered life-threatening injuries.
Prosecutors said at the hearing that the child was in critical but stable condition. No update on her condition has been reported since.
Peter Huynh, a Burke neighbor who said he often gardened with the father, described the family as originally from Bangladesh. He told The Banner he had seen the family just two days before the crash. Jahin had recently graduated from George Mason University and worked as a nurse, a neighbor said.
The crash occurred one day after Montgomery County Police announced it was disbanding its dedicated Alcohol Initiative Unit because of staffing shortages, as we reported Aug. 31. I-270 is patrolled by Maryland State Police, not Montgomery County Police.
Caballero Nolasco's next court date is scheduled for Oct. 6.
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