Victim Walked in Front of Defendant’s Car, Defense Argues in 2021 Vehicular Manslaughter Case

By Andrew Michaels - September 2, 2023
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects | Traffic | Victims |

Was the defendant under the influence of anesthesia when he struck and killed 38-year-old Garrick Williams Jr. with his car and injured another man on March 1, 2021?

This was the main point of contention between the prosecution and defense attorneys Robert Cohen and Janet Andersen during a bail review hearing for vehicular manslaughter defendant Galen Hyman on Sept. 1.

The 61-year-old defendant appeared before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Kendra Y. Ausby to determine bail as he awaits his jury trial for charges of vehicular manslaughter, criminally negligent vehicular manslaughter and vehicular homicide as well as two counts for failing to stop and remain at the scene.

According to the prosecution, Hyman was admitted to the hospital the day before the accident for health issues and was given methadone for treatment. On the day of the incident, the defendant was allegedly driving his 2005 Toyota Camry in the parking lot of the Shoppers grocery store on the 2000 block of Gwynns Falls Parkway, where “he rolled over [Williams’ body] and dragged him for a few feet.”

The prosecutor said defense counsel and the defendant allege that he mistook his car’s gas pedal for the brake.

“This was a 2005 Toyota Camry,” the prosecutor said. “It’s difficult to imagine that there have been a lot of people who have mistaken the gas for the brake in a 2005 Toyota Camry.”

A second victim, who survived, was also struck and rolled over the hood.

Hyman is accused of attempting to leave the scene after hitting the victims with his car; however, the prosecutor explained, the defendant then hit a car, followed by a tree and then a second car.

Court documents state that both victims were walking on the sidewalk when they were hit.

Earlier in Friday’s proceeding, Cohen countered Williams was walking and keeping pace with Hyman’s moving car and then walked in front of car. There was no designated crosswalk, he added.

There was also no evidence that Hyman was under the influence of methadone or speeding. Instead, Cohen continued, the defendant cooperated with the Baltimore Police Department (BPD) during their investigation over the following year and has not attempted to flee. 

“This was a tragic accident caused by pedal necessitation,” Cohen concluded, describing the police investigation as “severely flawed.”

Judge Ausby denied bail.

Hyman’s case has faced several postponements since October 2022 and is next scheduled to appear in court for a motions hearing on Nov. 9 before Judge Christopher L. Panos. Following the motions hearing, his case will return to Judge Melissa M. Phinn’s reception court to schedule a new trial date.