News Releases

For Immediate Release: Thursday, September 29, 2016

Detectives from the Montgomery County Police Department’s Collision Reconstruction Unit continue to investigate a fatal, hit-and-run pedestrian collision that occurred on Thursday, August 4. Today, investigators are releasing a description of what detectives believe to be the striking vehicle with accompanying video and photographs of the suspected vehicle and are urging anyone with information about this vehicle and/or collision to come forward to police.

On August 4 at approximately 9:24 p.m., 4th District officers and Fire and Rescue personnel responded for a pedestrian collision in the 14400 block of Layhill Road. While first responders were attempting to locate the collision, another call for a pedestrian collision was reported to be at Bel Pre Road and Homecrest Road, approximately one mile away.

Units responding to the Homecrest Road intersection located a deceased adult male in the roadway. The victim was identified as Julius Henry Newton, age 77, of the 14800 block of Melfordshire Way in the Layhill area of the county. Officers quickly determined that the two calls were actually for different parts of the same collision.

Detectives determined that the victim had been struck on Layhill Road as he walked from west to east across the southbound lanes of Layhill Road and had been carried by the striking vehicle approximately one mile to the Bel Pre Road and Homecrest Road intersection. Witnesses stated that after the vehicle struck Newton, it slowed down momentarily and then accelerated, making a right turn to westbound Bel Pre Road.

Investigators, using witnesses' descriptions of the striking vehicle and the path it took, along with detectives' scene analysis of the movements of the striking vehicle, were able to identify the possible striking vehicle on video surveillance (discussed below). Detectives were then able to better determine the characteristics of the striking vehicle:

Hit-and-Run Striking Vehicle Characteristics

1993 to 1997 Honda Accord
Light to medium color - possibly tan, gold, silver, or white
Color of passenger side front fender is darker than rest of vehicle

Two Videos of Striking Vehicle

An exterior camera on a local business and a camera on a Montgomery County Ride On Bus captured what is believed to be the striking vehicle as it traveled on Bel Pre Road. The two videos are below:

Anyone with information about this fatal, hit-and-run, pedestrian collision is urged to contact the Collision Reconstruction Unit at 240.773.6620. The Victims Rights Foundation is offering a $3,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person who committed the crime. For those who wish to remain anonymous, Crime Solvers of Montgomery County is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for any information that leads to the identification and arrest of the suspect. Tipsters can call Crime Solvers of Montgomery County toll-free at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477).