Maryland man arrested in fatal accident of horse-drawn buggy driver

ST. MARY'S COUNTY, Md. (TCD) -- A 31-year-old Mechanicsville man was was arrested this week following a fatal collision between the suspect and a man driving a horse-drawn buggy.

According to the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office, on Oct. 27 at approximately 7:30 a.m., deputies responded to an accident at the intersection of Point Lookout Road and Loveville Road in Loveville between a 2000 Chevrolet Silverado truck and a horse-drawn buggy. The driver of the buggy, 65-year-old Henry Brubacher Stauffer, was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead on the scene.

The Sheriff's Office believes Cherrico's truck "crossed the centerline and struck the horse-drawn buggy."

WJLA-TV reports the horse was unharmed.

The Sheriff's Office statement said the suspect, who was later identified as Ryan Nicholas Cherrico, fled the scene before officials arrived. They said "alcohol and/or drugs are believed to be contributing factors in the crash."

Cherrico's truck reportedly ended up nose-down in a ditch, according to WJLA. 

The St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office announced in an updated statement Nov. 2 that they found Cherrico and arrested him. A warrant for his arrest was issued Oct. 31 on charges of negligent homicide by vehicle under the influence, negligent manslaughter by vehicle, motor vehicle unlawful taking, driving vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, driving vehicle while impaired by alcohol, driving motor vehicle on highway on suspended license and privilege, failure to immediately return and remain at scene of accident involving death, and failure of driver involved in accident to render reasonable assistance to injured person.

According to court records, Cherrico was ordered to be held without bond.

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