Street racing suspect pleads guilty to vehicular manslaughter

Waldorf man will be sentenced to 15 years in prison for Accokeek race that killed eight

Saturday, Jan. 30, 2010

Posted at 2:55 a.m. Saturday

Darren Jamar Bullock pleaded guilty Friday to eight counts of vehicular manslaughter stemming from an illegal street race in Accokeek two years ago, according to Prince George's County State's Attorney Glenn F. Ivey (D).

Bullock, 21, and Tavon Jamarr Taylor, 20, both of Waldorf, were charged with vehicular manslaughter in July 2008 after eight people were killed and five people were injured during a street race on Indian Head Highway at about 3 a.m. Feb. 16, 2008. According to police, the drivers who were racing were blinded by smoke from a previous race on the highway and drove into a crowd of about 200 people. Prosecutors said Bullock and Taylor were the drivers.

"Today's plea will not bring back the lives of those killed on that tragic day, but today's conviction holds Darren Bullock accountable for his actions," Ivey said in a statement.

Sentencing is expected to be held March 1.

Those killed were Ervin Gardner, 39, and Daryl Wills, 38, of Oxon Hill; Maycol Lopez, 20, of Gaithersburg; Otis Williams, 35, of Indian Head; Milton Pinkney, 41, of Aquasco; Blane Briscoe, 49, of La Plata; William Gaines, 61, of Nanjemoy; and Mark Courtney, 34, of Leonardtown.

Taylor, who has pleaded not guilty, is set to go on trial Monday, according to the state's attorney's office.

Police said Taylor signed a written confession acknowledging that he and Bullock were racing, but Taylor's lawyer said his client was coerced to sign the document and was told his signature only indicated he had read the document drafted by police.