Guilty Plea In Fatal 113 Crash; No Jail Time For Motorist

SNOW HILL — A Delmar man this week pleaded guilty to criminally negligent manslaughter by motor vehicle in a fatal 2012 accident on Routes 113 and was sentenced to one year in jail, which was then suspended in favor of probation and a fine.

Gerald Dean Smith, now 44, pleaded guilty on Wednesday in Worcester County Circuit Court to criminally negligent manslaughter for the December 2012 accident at Routes 113 and 12 in Snow Hill that claimed the life of Iva Jane Justice, 65, of Snow Hill. Smith was sentenced to one year in jail, which Judge Richard Bloxom suspended in favor of probation for three years, a $500 fine and 100 hours of community service.

Shortly before 3 p.m. on Dec. 7, 2012, Maryland State Police troopers responded to a fatal collision at the intersection of Routes 113 and 12. The investigation revealed a 2005 Chevy flatbed truck belonging to Lowe’s and operated by Smith was heading south on Route 12. Smith attempted to cross the intersection at Route 113 without slowing or stopping and reportedly T-boned the 2002 Ford Explorer driven by Justice. Justice was pronounced dead at the scene, while Smith was transported to PRMC for treatment.
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