ROCKVILLE, MD — A 20-year-old Maryland man has been indicted in connection with a fatal crash that left two passengers dead after he allegedly drove under the influence of alcohol.
Jean Pierre Velasco was indicted by a Montgomery County grand jury on multiple charges, including two counts of negligent manslaughter by car, two counts of homicide by car while under the influence of alcohol, and two counts of homicide by car while under the influence of alcohol. The charges stem from a Rockville crash on March 4, 2023.
The crash occurred just after 4 a.m. when Velasco’s black 2012 Infiniti G37 struck a utility pole at the intersection of Montrose Road and Hitching Post Lane. The impact killed 19-year-old Leslie Kristin Ventura of Germantown, who was pronounced dead at the scene. Another passenger, 19-year-old Kailey Briana Vigil of Rockville, was critically injured and died a day later at a hospital.
Investigators determined that Velasco was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash. He was released on a personal bond.
Authorities emphasized that the indictment is not a finding of guilt, and Velasco is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
