The sole surviving passenger of a crash that killed three young people in Olney said the driver had been drinking and was speeding when his car struck a telephone pole and two trees early Sunday morning, a top prosecutor said. Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy said Monday that Kevin Coffay and his four passengers had been to two parties on Saturday night before the fatal wreck that killed three passengers and sent the fourth to the hospital.
Coffay, 20, was driving a 2007 Toyota Corolla when it veered off the right side of Olney Laytonsville Road at 3:11 a.m. Sunday. McCarthy said that police got there “almost instantly,” but Coffay had already fled on foot. Twice officers spotted Coffay, but he “continued to flee.” They found him later in the driveway of his residence on Cutlass Drive in Rockville. Toxicology reports on Coffay were not yet available Monday.
McCarthy said that when Coffay was taken into custody, he referred to the passengers in his car: “They were all fine when I left.”
Killed were Spencer Datt, 18, of Derwood; Haeley N. McGuire, 18, of Rockville; and John Hoover, 20, also of Rockville.
The only surviving passenger, Charles Nardella, 19, of Gaithersburg was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and later spoke to authorities.
Distraught with his head down, Coffay appeared via video hookup Monday at a detention hearing at Montgomery County District Court in Rockville. Coffay, after posting $50,000, must serve home detention. He’ll only be allowed out to attend school or make court appearances. Judge William G. Simmons also ordered Coffay to go through undetermined substance abuse and mental health treatments.
Coffay’s attorney Michael McAuliffe said that Coffay’s actions were that of a “panicky kid.”
“It’s a breathtaking tragedy,” McAuliffe said. “It could be any of our kids.”
Coffay is facing several felony charges, including failing to remain at the scene of an accident, not rendering assistance to an injured person and attempting to elude police by foot.
With summer approaching, “beach week” and other activities involving alcohol will be common among youngsters.
Said McCarthy: “I just hope that we talk to our children.”
