No Bail for Man Accused of Driving 80 MPH Striking Vehicle, Killing One Passenger

By Andrew Michaels - April 26, 2024
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects |

A Glen Burnie man will remain incarcerated for a fatal car crash last year after a Baltimore City judge denied to reassess his bail on April 26.

According to the prosecution, 31-year-old Trae Byes was driving under the influence of both drugs and alcohol on Feb. 15, 2023, when he struck a minivan with six occupants, killing one of its passengers. The victim’s vehicle was turning onto an interstate ramp, where the defendant hit the vehicle driving 80 mph.

Byes’ blood alcohol level was later measured at 0.254, the prosecutor said–the legal limit is .08– and traces of marijuana and fentanyl were also found in his system. The defendant was previously denied bail in Baltimore City District and Circuit courts.

The prosecutor noted that Byes has had multiple traffic citations in the past, including driving without a license, failing to control his speed to avoid an accident and failing of stop his vehicle after an accident in addition to two DUIs in 2015 and 2018.

“There is no indication that the ruling by the district court judge was erroneous [and] there is no indication that the ruling by Judge [Melissa K.] Copeland was erroneous,” the prosector said, regarding the defendant’s earlier bail rulings.

While defense attorney Michael Ott argued that his client had the right of way at the scene of the accident, he further questioned the length of time it took to charge Byes, who is currently facing charges of vehicular manslaughter and criminally negligent vehicular manslaughter as well as other related offenses.

Ott said Byes was not officially charged until late-October 2023 and wasn’t arrested until February 2024.

“I’m not aware of any violent convictions on his record” aside from some other traffic records, Ott said.

Judge Anthony F. Vittoria denied counsel’s petition to reassess Byes’ bail. The defendant is next scheduled to appear in Circuit Court’s reception court on June 21.