Maryland man convicted in fatal crash over the summer in Ocean City
A Maryland man who drove drunk and caused a fatal crash over the summer in Ocean City has been convicted of negligent manslaughter.
41-year-old Todd Pivec, of Cockeysville, MD was convicted of negligent manslaughter by a motor vehicle and driving a vehicle not equipped with ignition interlock in the Worcester County Circuit Court.
Sentencing was postponed until February 14, 2020 so that a pre-sentence investigation can be conducted. He faces a total of 17 years in prison at sentencing.
On June 21, 2019, shortly after 1 a.m., the Ocean City Police Department was alerted by a local bartender that an intoxicated person, identified as Pivec, was attempting to drive a vehicle on Coastal Highway in the area of 94th Street.
Officers were already in the area and immediately began following Pivec鈥檚 vehicle, at which time they spotted numerous traffic violations and tried to stop the vehicle, but Pivec accelerated away from police, traveling at a high rate of speed southbound on Coastal Highway during a torrential rainstorm.
Officers eventually lost sight of Pivec鈥檚 vehicle which ultimately struck the rear of another vehicle in the area of 48th Street, causing that vehicle to crash into the Satellite Caf茅 at 46th Street.
As a result of the collision, that vehicle鈥檚 fuel tank ignited, trapping the driver of the vehicle, later identified as Siefeldawla Alfaki, inside and causing his death.
After the collision, Pivec鈥檚 vehicle flipped over and eventually came to a rest after crashing into a telephone pole at 45th Street. Officers observed him crawl out of the wrecked vehicle and try to flee on foot.
Pivec was apprehended on scene and submitted to a blood draw at Atlantic General Hospital which resulted in a blood alcohol content of more than double the legal limit.
Crash data from Pivec鈥檚 vehicle was analyzed during the investigation and showed that in the moments prior to the impact with Alfaki鈥檚 vehicle, Pivec was traveling at 93 miles per hour.
Worcester County State鈥檚 Attorney Kris Heiser commended the Ocean City Police Department and Pfc. Ryan Flanagan of the Traffic Safety Unit for their comprehensive investigation, and applauded the efforts of Assistant State鈥檚 Attorney Jared Monteiro who prosecuted the case. Heiser refrained from making additional comments until after sentencing.
