ABINGDON, MD.— Feb. 27, 2015 – Maryland State Police report that a DUI driver who struck a car carrying a pregnant woman and then fled the scene on I-95 in Harford County last night was not counting on emergency road repair up ahead that stopped traffic and included a state trooper working a special assignment at the location.
The suspect is identified as Bryan C. Kafka, 25, of 9878 Edisto Way, Middle River, Md. He is charged with driving under the influence, driving on a suspended license, failure to remain at the scene of a personal injury crash, and reckless driving. After his arrest, he was transported to the Harford County Interagency Processing Center for his initial appearance before a court commissioner.
Shortly before 10:00 p.m. yesterday, Maryland state troopers at the JFK Highway Barrack were dispatched to a hit and run crash in Harford County on southbound I-95, south of Rt. 24. Arriving troopers obtained a description of a Chevrolet pickup truck that struck a Buick passenger car carrying two people, one of whom was pregnant. The pickup did not stop and fled from the scene. Troopers immediately issued a lookout for the suspect vehicle.
Unfortunately for the driver who fled, a Maryland Transportation Authority emergency roadway repair crew was working just south of where the crash occurred. Workers had traffic stopped on southbound I-95 due to work occurring in the roadway. In addition, a state trooper was positioned at the construction site with the highway crew for added site safety. The trooper quickly located the suspect driver, whose escape had been prevented by the stopped traffic and by the heavy damage his vehicle had sustained in the crash.
Troopers noted the driver, identified as Kafka, was exhibiting signs of driving under the influence. Further investigation led to his arrest for that and the other offenses listed above.
The two people in the vehicle hit by Kafka, Kuriakos and Jaclyn Petropoulos, of Flushing, NY, were transported to Johns Hopkins Bayview Hospital. EMS personnel described the victims’ injures as non-life threatening.
Kafka was charged by Trooper C. Coral with consuming alcoholic beverages in a vehicle on a highway with a $530 fine attached to it. Trooper Coral added another 13 charges including DUI and about the entire traffic citation law code along with it.
Kafka apparently is attempting to fill a cemetery in Maryland as he pursues his career of being an intoxicated driver, perhaps he will be the first one in the grave. His last attempt at perpetual dustiness took place on Dec. 14, 2014, at least that is the last time he was nailed for DUI. Court records show June 29, 2015 as his pending court date. He was charged by a Maryland State Trooper while east bound on Rt. 40 at 68th Street. Six DUI and traffic charges were added to his growing list of reasons he needs to rot in jail for a few years.
Hit and run appears to be Kafka’s style. On April 27, 2014 Kafka was charged Baltimore County Police Officer M. Wood with several traffic charges associated with a hit and run crash on Bird River Road where he allegedly failed to locate the owner of a vehicle in a crash or provide insurance information. Trial on those charges is pending for April 22, 2015 in Baltimore County District Court. Kafka is represented by attorney Richard Paulick.
Not willing to own up to simply being a dirtbag and criminal, on Oct. 10, 2013, Kafka filed a plea in Harford County District Court “not being criminally responsible by reason of insanity” for an incident dating back to March 10, 2013. Due to his plea with the hapless Harford County States Attorney he was allowed to get off a charge of trespassing with the charge being placed on probation without judgment. No fine, no time. He was ordered to pay restitution of $2,500.
A victim of Kafka’s went to the trouble of obtaining a peace warrant against him on Dec. 17, 2012 which was granted, ordering him to stay away from the victim, work, home and school and not to harass or harm the victim.
Charged with assault in City of Baltimore, the charges were dropped by the Baltimore City States Attorney on May 16, 2013.
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