| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | For Information, Contact Public Affairs |
| Tuesday, September 28, 2004 | Channing Phillips (202) 514-6933 |
| Jury
convicts S.E. District man in Thanksgiving Day 2003 fatal car collision that took the life of an eight-year-old girl |
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Washington, D.C. - United States Attorney Kenneth
L. Wainstein announced that today a D.C. Superior Court jury convicted
Omie Henry Gladden, 44, of the 1800 block of Trenton Place, S.E.,
Washington, D.C., of one count of Involuntary Manslaughter and two
counts of Aggravated Assault in connection with the Thanksgiving Day
2003 crash that killed 8-year-old Nicole Wingfield and injured two
of her siblings. Judge Ann O'Regan Keary set sentencing for December
17, 2004, at which time the defendant faces up to 60 years in prison. According to the government's evidence, Nicole Wingfield and her family, including two of her siblings, set out for their grandmother's house to pick up some food for Thanksgiving dinner. At the intersection of 27th and Pennsylvania, S.E., the Wingfields were stopped at a red signal. After the light turned green, their vehicle paused to make certain that the traffic on outbound Pennsylvania had come to a stop. Proceeding through the intersection, the car then made it to the edge of the second of three lanes of the inbound traffic. At that point, the defendant's Dodge Ram Conversion van crashed into the rear quarter of the Wingfield's car with such force that it spun around 270 degrees. The force of the impact smashed the rear window of the car, while the rotation of the vehicle caused one child to be thrown from the vehicle rendering the child unconscious. Nicole and another child were meanwhile pinned inside the car. Nicole tragically died from her injuries, while the second child pinned in the car was knocked unconscious and suffered a serious chest injury. Both of the surviving children have since recovered from their physical injuries. Doctor Lois Goslinoski, Deputy Medical Examiner testified that Nicole's death was the result of blunt force trauma. After the collision, the defendant's van continued on and pulled up to a stop about 100 yards from the crash. It was still operable, but had suffered a flat tire. In the stunned aftermath, Officer Bladden Russell, who was about to leave work and was on the steps of the 6th District substation, which is right on the corner where the collision occurred, rushed to the scene along with other officers. When questioned by the officers, the defendant admitted that he ran the red light, but said that his dog jumped up on his back and distracted him. Although Gladden did not fail the standard Field Sobriety Tests, he still exhibited clues that he was under the influence. He admitted to having had a couple of beers and some whiskey. When the officers went to the defendant's van, they recovered a plastic cup in a cup holder next to the driver that had a reddish liquid with a strong odor of alcohol. Next to the driver on the floor was a black plastic bag containing a 1/4 full bottle of cranberry juice and a half-full bottle of brandy. An open liter of Tequila was also recovered from the floor of the front passenger compartment. Gladden was eventually taken -- more than three hours after the crash -- to U.S. Capitol Police headquarters for the breathalyzer. The BAC was .04, but a subsequent urine test was .09. Rory Doyle of the Office of the Chief Toxicologist testified that all things considered, Gladden was around .08 at the time of the crash. The defendant had a suspended license and the van was not registered. Detective Michael Miller of the Major Crash Investigation Unit testified that Gladden was traveling at a bare minimum of 45 miles per hour. Mr. Keith Neal of the Department of Public Works testified that the signal for Pennsylvania Avenue at that intersection was yellow for four seconds and then red for two seconds before the victims even got a green signal. In announcing the conviction, U.S. Attorney Wainstein thanked Officers David Jackson, Bladden Russell, Steven Chih of the Metropolitan Police Department's 6th District; Officers Anthony Maturo and Kevin Markey of the United States Secret Service; Detectives Michael Miller, Wayne Washington and Elgin Wheeler of the MPD's Major Crash Investigation Unit; Officer Richard Williams formerly of the 6th District now with the Pentagon Police; Officers Joseph Anderson, Maureen Walsh and Walker Roach of MPD's Forensic Services; and Phil Aronson, paralegal, Debra Smith, legal technician and Assistant United States Attorney John Soroka of the United States Attorney's Office. |
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