LEONARDTOWN, Md. (Feb. 4, 2008)—A 61-year-old Hughesville man, Donald Garfield Holton, is dead after being struck by a car on Saturday evening at approximately 6:52 p.m. Police say the driver of the car was not at fault and will not be charged.
The accident happened on northbound Point Lookout Road in the area of the Mechanicsville Burch Mart. Police say a 2005 Volkswagon Golf, operated by Shauna Shaw, 26, of Mechanicsville, was traveling northbound when Holton walked out in front of her vehicle and was struck. Holton died at the scene as a result of injuries sustained in the collision.
A road patrol unit with the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office, who happened to be patrolling in the area, pulled up on the scene just after the collision occurred. The Sheriff's Office Collision Reconstruction Team was called and assumed the investigation.
Police determined that Holton was dressed in all dark clothing and was illegally in the roadway when he was struck by the vehicle.
Police say that speed and alcohol are not considered to be contributing factors for the operator of the vehicle. They also concluded that Shaw immediately stopped her vehicle after striking the man.
A post mortem examination will be conducted by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore.
The Sheriff's Office Reconstruction Team is continuing the investigation. Police are asking anyone who may have witnessed the collision, who did not speak with a Deputy on the scene, contact Deputy Timothy Reese at 301-475-4040.