News Releases

For Immediate Release: Friday, November 29, 2024

Gaithersburg, MD – Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police - Collision Reconstruction Unit have arrested 25-year-old Owen Roland Kirill Fowler of Bethesda, on charges of Gross Negligent Manslaughter by Vehicle. The charges stem from a fatal collision that occurred on Saturday, March 9, 2024, on Connecticut Avenue near Quincy Street, where 30-year-old Jobani Alfredo Cruz, of Washington D.C., was killed.

At approximately 12:19 a.m., on Saturday, March 9, officers and Montgomery County Fire Rescue personnel responded to a collision involving a white 2012 Mercedes SLK convertible, operated by Fowler, and a white 2023 Ram 1500 pick-up, driven by Cruz.

The investigation revealed that Fowler and Cruz were engaged in a speed contest northbound on Connecticut Avenue, passing other vehicles and repeatedly changing lanes. In the area of Connecticut Avenue and Primrose Street, Cruz’s vehicle struck Fowler’s. Cruz’s vehicle ran off the right side of the road, struck a utility pole and multiple trees, and overturned. Fowler’s vehicle overturned in the roadway.

Cruz was pronounced dead at the scene, and Fowler was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.

The investigation by the Collision Reconstruction Unit determined that Cruz reached a top speed of 64 MPH in a 30-mph zone and struck Fowler’s vehicle. Cruz was operating his vehicle with a recorded blood alcohol content of 0.12 BAC, above the legal limit. Fowler was operating his vehicle without a valid driver’s license and a revoked privilege to drive.

On Wednesday, November 27, 2024, Owen Fowler was arrested and transported to the Montgomery County Central Processing Unit, where he was released after posting 10% of a $5,000 bail.

# # #

Release ID: 24-562
Media Contact: DBartels
Categories: arrest , fatal-collision

News Releases

Driver Charged in Fatal Collision on Connecticut Avenue

POLICE CONTACTS

FOR CRIME SOLVERS

DISTRICTS

RESOURCES

STAY INFORMED

FOLLOW US