April 5th, 2019 by WCBC Radio
Maryland State Police arrested two people who are facing charges related to a 2018 vehicle crash that left two children dead in Garrett County.
Joshua Murray, 40, and Crystal Adams, 35, both of Morgantown, West Virginia, were arrested Wednesday by West Virginia State Police. Both waived extradition and were returned today to Maryland.
Murray is charged with four counts of neglect of a minor, three counts of having an occupant under 16 not restrained by a seat belt, two counts of criminally negligent manslaughter by vehicle and one count each of having an occupant under 16 not restrained by a child safety seat, driving an unsafe motor vehicle, driving without tires in a safe operating condition, failure to reduce speed in dangerous weather conditions, driving uninsured, knowingly giving false accident report information, driving on a revoked out of state license and driving without a license and authorization.
Adams is charged with four counts of neglect of a minor and one count each of knowingly being permitted to be driven in an unsafe vehicle on the highway, knowingly giving false accident report information, knowing permitting another person to drive an uninsured vehicle, knowingly permitting a vehicle to be driven by an unauthorized person, knowingly permitting an unlawful highway vehicle operation and having a passenger age 16 or more in the outboard front seat of a motor vehicle without a seat belt restraint.
Murray is being held without bail while Adams is being held on $50,000 bail at the Garrett County Detention Center.
According to an investigation by the Maryland State Police CRASH Team, troopers from the McHenry Barrack responded at about 3 p.m. on July 3, 2018 to Interstate-68 near the Maryland-West Virginia state line on a report of a single vehicle crash that occurred in the rain. The vehicle, a 2004 Ford Explorer, had rolled over, ejecting Adams and four juveniles, ages 5, 12, 13 and 14.
Murray was the only occupant not ejected from the vehicle. None of the juveniles were properly restrained.
The 13-year-old, a male, identified as Tyler Murray, was transported by ambulance to a private medical helicopter, where he died. The 12-year-old female, identified as Kyra Adams, was flown by Maryland State Police helicopter to Ruby Memorial Hospital, where she died on July 5.
Adams, along with the 5-year-old female and 14-year-old male, were transported by ambulance to Ruby Memorial Hospital for treatment of their injuries. Murray was transported by ambulance to Ruby Memorial Hospital, but did not require medical attention.
According to investigators, Adams initially claimed to be the driver of the vehicle. However, the investigation eventually pointed toward Murray as being the driver. Upon completion of their investigation, the Maryland State Police CRASH Team submitted their findings to the Garrett County State’s Attorney’s Office who determined the charges to be filed in this case.
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