Another Teenage Fatal Wreck
in Calvert Ends Bloody Year
New Years Eve keeps police busy answering domestic fights

By Kenneth C. Rossignol
ST. MARY'S TODAY

CHESAPEAKE BEACH  (Jan 1, 2005) --- An 18-year-old Chesapeake Beach teen, whom Calvert Sheriff Mike Evans said was driving too fast, lost control of his motorcycle on Rt. 261 near Brownies Beach and wrecked, killing his 16-year-old girlfriend on Dec. 31, 2004.
While the New Years Eve weekend got off to a tragic start, by 2 p.m. on Saturday there had not been any further serious crashes.
The Leonardtown Barracks of the Maryland State Police led the state during December for DWI arrests, said Lt. Brian Cedar, Commander of the Leonardtown Barracks.
“We have been out there working and doing our job to protect the public from drunk drivers,” said Lt. Cedar. “Our troopers are working hard knowing that they serve the public best when they act to make our highways safer while at the same time we have had a huge amount of calls for domestic disturbances and fights.”
On New Years Eve, at about 1:00 am, Carl Scaggs wrecked his 2004 Yamaha motorcycle, killing a girl from Mayo, said Sheriff Evans.
“We have had a tragic year and sometimes they just don’t listen, this has been one of those times,” said Sheriff Evans. “Our people have been working hard to slow motorists down but we still have had tragic results from people driving too fast or after drinking. We have lost about 3 who were about 21 years old and 4-5 teenagers this year, all the same, speeding, driver error or drinking. They just have to get the message to slow down and live.”
Sheriff Evans said that there were two DWI arrests on Dec. 31st by his deputies and 3 so far on January 1, 2005. In addition there were 2 drug arrests.
Charles County Sheriff Fred Davis reports that his officers have given a high priority to DWI drivers this past year and the results of those efforts are reflected in the statistics which are reported each week in the DWI arrests.
Capt. William D. Brown, Commander of the Patrol Division of the Charles County Sheriff’s Department reports that on New Year’s Eve and New Years day that his officers made 3 DWI arrests with no other serious incidents or crashes to report.
“We have had a pedestrian accident today on the western side of the county but I don’t have a report on the outcome of that one yet,” said Capt. Brown.
The first DWI arrest of 2005 in St. Mary’s County was made by TFC. Andrew Rossignol, according to Trooper Mike Laney of the Leonardtown Barrack. Mary Wade, 42, of Tennessee, was arrested at 12:01 am.
Cpl. Craig Tyer of the Prince Frederick Barracks of the Maryland State Police reports that two men were arrested for DWI by the Maryland State troopers in Calvert County on New Years day.
Nicholas Adam Karwoski, 24, was arrested by Tfc. Oresik and Robert Francis Blakeney, 23, was arrested by Tpr. Schmidt.
Maryland State Deputy Chief Fire Marshal W. Faron Taylor reports that the first fire death of the year took place at 5 am today, Jan. 1st in Baltimore City in a row house fire.
“We were on track for a far worse year than normal last year for fire fatalities,” said Taylor. Fortunately, it didn’t end with the intensity it began with.”
Taylor noted that the winter heating season starts off so many fires and once again stressed the importance of checking batteries in smoke detectors.
The largest arson fire in Maryland history will have more information made available about it on Monday, Jan. 3rd when the U.S. Attorney for Maryland holds a press conference in Greenbelt regarding the arrests of a gang of Charles County hoodlums charged with setting fire to dozens of houses on Dec. 5th in an Indian Head subdivision.
Statewide, there was a DWI fatal wreck in Salisbury, according to Sgt. Rob Moroney of the State Police.
"We had an incident where two teens pointed a gun at another motorist in Montgomery County and they were caught by a trooper in Prince George's County," said Moroney.  "It turned out to be a BB gun."