Silver Spring Driver Arrested In Fatal May Crash On Briggs Chaney Road

SILVER SPRING, MD — A Silver Spring woman was charged with manslaughter Monday for her role in a May 8 crash that killed a Washington, D.C., woman, according to the Montgomery County Department of Police.

Jovannie T. McCarthy, 27, was arrested in the two-vehicle crash that occurred about 12:44 a.m. Police said she drove a blue 2006 Honda Accord that exited westbound MD 200 onto Briggs Chaney Road when it crossed the westbound and eastbound lanes. The Accord struck a 2023 Volkswagen that was eastbound on Briggs Chaney Road, a police news release said.

A woman passenger in the Volkswagen — Kiara Cheeks, 35 — was taken to an area hospital, where she later died from her injuries.

On Sunday, Dec. 1, McCarthy was taken into custody on an arrest warrant that charged her with criminally negligent manslaughter by vehicle, police said.

Criminally negligent manslaughter by vehicle is a misdemeanor and carries a conviction of up to three years in prison and/or a fine of up to $5,000, according to Maryland law.

McCarthy was taken to the Montgomery County Central Processing Unit, where she is being held without bond pending a bond review hearing.