Vehicular Homicide Defendant With Severe Injuries Denied Home Detention

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A 26-year-old accused of killing another driver and critically injuring a passenger was denied bail in Baltimore City Circuit Court despite his significant medical issues.

David Hanson, Jr. is charged with negligent vehicular manslaughter, vehicular manslaughter while under the influence, vehicular manslaughter while impaired by alcohol, inflicting a life-threatening injury with a vehicle while under the influence, knowingly driving an uninsured vehicle and driving on the highway with a revoked license for his alleged involvement in an accident on April 16, 2023.

As Hanson’s attorney Daniel Mooney explained to Judge Jeffrey M. Geller Aug. 9, the car accident killed the driver of the other vehicle and critically injured the passenger in an “incredibly severe” incident. Hanson himself suffered extensive injuries, such as a liver laceration, an embolism, a fractured femur and an aneurysm among others. During surgery right after the accident, Hanson stopped breathing four separate times.

Since Hanson’s arrest and incarceration on May 2, he has been taken to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center three separate times, including the day prior to Friday’s hearing. Mooney argued the jail system was unable to adequately care for his client, who has been going without access to exercise or physical therapy. Mooney asked the court to put Hanson on home detention with alcohol intake monitoring at his fiancee’s house.

The stand-in prosecutor said that jail call recordings gave her concern Hanson would be a flight risk and further, that his relationship with his fiancee was tumultuous and wouldn’t provide a stable living situation. Also, if his medical care was a concern, Hanson could have a hearing through the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS). Due to those factors and the severity of the crime, she asked for Hanson to be held in prison.

Hanson’s prior convictions, recounted by the pretrial services agent, included driving with a revoked license, driving without a license and failure to remain on the scene of a car accident all within the last ten years. Pretrial services likewise recommended Hanson be held without bail.

Judge Geller said that he had significant concerns for the public’s safety, considering Hanson was allegedly going over 100 mph in a 30 mph zone. The judge stated the prison system’s taking Hanson to Shock Trauma meant they were responding to his medical needs. Judge Geller denied bail to Hanson.

Hanson will next appear in court on Oct. 4 for a pretrial conference.