Severna Park Man Sentenced In Woman's Death: Officials

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, MD — A 34-year-old Severna Park man will serve 10 years in prison with all but eight years suspended followed by five years of supervised probation for the negligent manslaughter death of 39-year-old Caron Tasker of Lusby. Kyle Heck entered a guilty plea to the charges Jan. 2 and was sentenced March 10.

“Heck’s selfish decision to get behind the wheel and drive while impaired by drugs caused the collision that cut short the life of Caron Tasker and further endangered the lives of other motorists,” said Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney Anne Colt Leitess in a statement. “This is truly a tragic event and it’s my hope that the family will find some peace from this sentence in the loss of Ms. Tasker.”

On Sept. 15, 2018, Anne Arundel County police responded to a crash involving two vehicles on Baltimore Annapolis Boulevard -MD Route 648 in Severna Park. A 2006 GMC Sierra truck driven by Heck was traveling southbound on Baltimore Annapolis Blvd. when it crossed the center line and struck a 2000 Volkswagen Cabriolet driven by Tasker. The GMC then crashed into a fence on the opposite side of the intersection and overturned. Heck was able to crawl out of the overturned GMC. Tasker was trapped inside her vehicle and had to be removed by the Anne Arundel County Fire Department. She was immediately transported to Shock Trauma in Baltimore where she eventually died.

During the investigation, Heck told Anne Arundel County police officers that a deer ran out in front of his vehicle and that he swerved into the oncoming lane of traffic causing the two vehicles to collide. However, while on the scene, police detected the smell of alcohol coming from Heck’s breath and he exhibited signs of impairment. When requested to complete a sobriety test Heck said, “No, I’m not doing any test.” Heck was transported to Shock Trauma in Baltimore and a blood test revealed the presence of cocaine and methadone. Police found cocaine in Heck’s automobile and methadone was found at the crash scene in a pill bottle with Heck’s name.