UPDATE: Glen Allen man charged in double-fatality on I-95 bridge
A Glen Allen man faces two charges of aggravated involuntary manslaughter in the deaths of two Richmond men in a crash on the James River Bridge almost two months ago.
Mark Merrick Jr., 26, was arrested Friday and charged in the deaths of Antonio Montague, 22, and Travis McCauley, 27, on July 22. Montague and McCauley were killed when they were struck by Merrick’s car after getting out of their vehicle on the Interstate 95 bridge to change a flat tire, according to Richmond Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Tracy Thorne-Begland. Two other people who had gotten out of the car were injured in the crash.
Matthew P. Geary, a former city prosecutor who is defending Merrick, said his client and family expressed their condolences to the families of the two victims. However, Geary said, “We don’t agree that this tragic accident was aggravated manslaughter.“
In addition to the manslaughter charges, Merrick has been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and driving with a suspended license. The DUI charge is Merrick’s second such offense, Thorne-Begland said.
Geary said Merrick’s license had been suspended for failing to pay a fine. “I don’t know that Mr. Merrick knew his (driving) privileges had been suspended,“ his attorney said.
Merrick’s defense attorneys also have retained a toxicologist to examine the blood tests taken from Merrick at VCU Medical Center to determine his blood alcohol level.
Merrick was injured in the crash, which occurred about 12:45 a.m. in the left northbound lane of the interstate as it crosses the James River. There are no shoulders on the bridge for drivers to park disabled vehicles, but State Police advise drivers to keep going on the wheel rim if necessary to reach a safe stopping place.
“He was not arrested at the scene because he was hospitalized,“ Thorne-Begland said today.
Merrick was indicted by a Richmond grand jury Sept. 7 after an investigation by Virginia State Police. He is scheduled to appear in Richmond Circuit Court for a status hearing on Oct. 7.
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Reader Reactions
I-95 and all other Interstates needs proper lighting. I understand that this guy should not operate any form of vehicle but darkness in the highway made it so much worse. All drivers should also know what the precautions are in cases of emergency car malfunctions in the road. Get the kit, it does not cost that much if it means to safety your life.
This whole situation is sad. Two young men have lost their lives and their friends had to witness this. Families have lost people they love and will forver miss. Granted these young men should have stopped on the side of the road but the fact remains that someone CHOSE to get behind the wheel of a vehicle while drunk. This is the one that showed the worse judgement of all, and for this not to be the first time!! The drunk may as well had a gun a shot them point blank. It’s too late to be sorry. If this had not have happened my guess is he would still be drinking and driving. He’s sorry because he got caught. He should be charged with murder, plain and simple. And as for not knowing his drivers license was suspended, that’s bull too. He received a letter from DMV telling him such. Well the next letter he gets from DMV will tell him his license is revoked. Prayers to the two men who lost their lives and the friends that had to witness this and to the family members that will have to live with the loss the rest of their lives.
Poppy you are exacty right .
Two DUI’s and a suspended license and driving while intoxicated? This guy truly needs to be put away for a very long time. The next time it might be a family of six in a stalled car that can’t be moved. Would some of you still think the victims were stupid? This mentality of blaming victims is just unbelievable to me.
I’m sorry. This is truly tragic, but these people stopped in the fast lane of the highway when it was night. I understand that the tire blew, but then, it would have made complete sense to walk over to the side of the road and wait for police and/or a tow truck. It was a bad decision and unfortunately these kids paid the price.
No one is defending the drunk driver. He should not have been on the road and is responsible for the deaths that occured.
datruth10 - Character is defined by how you conduct yourself after making a mistake. The drunk driver made a mistake, but the driver of the car also made a mistake in not driving on the rim to the exit.
How will you conduct yourself? Would you change a tire on the travel lane of an Interstate again or would you drive to the exit?
If you choose to drive to the exit, you have learned a very hard lesson and are developing character. If you continue to defend your actions, you have learned nothing.
A sober driver paying closer attention to the road! would have seen the car stopped with people standing by it . Regardless of what you did years ago and how these kids could have gone the extra mile the point is a drunk driver still killed them .Drinking and driving kills .
datruth10,
What was the reason for not driving the mile to get to the next exit? Blown tire doesnt mean the rim was blown. And from experience, you can drive on a rim, you will prob screw it up, but I dont think a life is worth more than a rim. I’ve had a flat tire on a long bridge in the south, and had to drive several miles to the nearest exit. It had a shoulder, but to me that wasnt safe enough on a narrow bridge. So, I drove, ruinded my rim, but had piece of mind and felt safe when I replaced it with the spare. I’m not sure if you broke any laws by stoppping on the bridge, the person who was driving showed poor responsibility and disregard for life. Not only ya’ll lives but those driving up behind you. Like I said before, a sober person could have very well hit you guys. I’ve seen enough accidents from people just stopping on a road to know ANYONE sober could have done this. Was he wrong for drivng under the influence, sure. Everyone should know, no matter where, when, how, if you can move the vehicle off the actual road DO IT. and blown tire isnt close enough of a reason to not drive further. Sorry for your loss though.
At 12:45am i wonder how much traffic was on that bridge ,i could also question why the driver stopped but who knows how many others including me may have done the same thing .The young guys may have thought jump out fix it no problem ,easy to do .The problem a drunk driver , reaction time is slowed , he’s impared maybe speeding furthermore he has a suspended license , that his lawyer states he didn’t know about (yeah right) . I often see mothers pushing their baby’s carriage on the edge of the road or the children holding hands with their parent but lending into the street all may thought as safe acts - not when a drunk driver is around .
My heart goes out to the friends and family of these men. What a tragedy! I know every situation is very different and decisions are made for various reasons, but I would have to agree that you should never stop on an interstate. Even if your tire blew out, the rim is still there. Drive on the rim for as long as it takes to get off the road. Turn your flashers on to make sure drivers approaching you see you. Again, the blame here is on that drunk driver. Driving and drinking never mix! That is why all of us reasonable drivers have to do what it takes to stay safe because the speeders, reckless drivers and drunks are out there.
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