News Releases

Seventeen-Year-Old Charged in 2025 Fatal Collision

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, February 18, 2026

Gaithersburg, MD — The Montgomery County Department of Police has arrested a juvenile driver, who has been charged as an adult, in connection with a fatal pedestrian collision that occurred in September 2025 in Silver Spring.

17-year-old Justin Alvarado of Silver Spring has been charged with manslaughter by vehicle – gross negligence. He was transported to the Central Processing Unit.

On Sunday, September 21, 2025, at approximately 9:14 p.m., Montgomery County Police officers and Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service personnel responded to the area of University Boulevard West and St. Paul Street for multiple reports of a pedestrian struck.

Responders located 16-year-old James Evert Anderson of Kensington in the roadway. Despite life-saving efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

The preliminary investigation by the Collision Reconstruction Unit determined that Anderson was crossing the westbound lanes of University Boulevard West when he was struck by a white 2023 Nissan Murano traveling westbound. Alvarado remained at the scene and showed no signs of impairment.

CRU detectives concluded that Alvarado was traveling at 76 mph in a posted 30 mph zone before the collision, more than twice the posted speed limit.

Detectives determined that Alvarado was operating the vehicle in a grossly negligent manner and in violation of the restrictions of his Maryland learner’s permit. His speed directly endangered pedestrians and other motorists in the area. His bond hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, February 18.

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Release ID: 26-075
Media Contact: S.D. Goff 
Categories: fatal-collision