Rockville man charged in connection with 2023 fatal pedestrian collision

State reduced speed limit on Veirs Mill Road stretch in Rockville after crash that killed woman

May 7, 2024 3:23 p.m.

Montgomery County police have charged a Rockville man in connection with a December 2023 collision on Veirs Mill Road that killed a 70-year-old woman.

Jose Isaac Zelaya, 24, was arrested Friday and charged with several offenses including negligent driving and manslaughter by vehicle – criminal negligence in the death of Teresa Moreno De Mejia of Rockville, according to a police statement.

Other charges include “driving a vehicle on highway at speed exceeding limit, driving vehicle in excess of reasonable and prudent speed on highway [and] driver failure to exercise due care to avoid pedestrian collision,” the statement said.

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In the aftermath of the December collision, the State Highway Administration approved the city of Rockville’s request to lower the speed limit on Veirs Mill Road from 40 mph to 35 mph along the stretch between Edmonston Drive and Twinbrook Parkway, according to police.

According to authorities, Moreno De Mejia was crossing Veirs Mill Road at Atlantic Avenue before 7 p.m. Dec. 26 after buying groceries when she was allegedly struck by Zelaya, who was driving a Toyota Supra.

Moreno De Mejia was then struck by a second vehicle. Both drivers remained at the scene, the police statement said.

Investigating detectives determined Zelaya was driving over the marked speed limit before striking Moreno De Mejia, according to the statement. The driver of the second vehicle has not been charged. 

Police said the investigation of the collision is ongoing.

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A lawyer listed for Zelaya did not immediately return a phone call for a comment on Tuesday morning.

Following the crash, Rockville’s Vision Zero task force conducted a road inspection that led to the recommendation to reduce the speed limit. Vision Zero is an initiative focused on reducing pedestrian and traffic fatalities through road network design.

According to the city’s Vision Zero website, the Department of Public Works inspects the roadway pavement, sidewalks, curb ramps, signs, and pavement markings; confirms that the traffic signals and pedestrian signals are operating appropriately; and assesses whether the streetlights are working and whether lighting is sufficient. 

In March, Bethesda Magazine reported about the county’s progress in meeting the goals of its own Vision Zero initiative, noting that despite the millions of dollars being spent to help make roads safer, the number of traffic deaths in the county in 2023 was about 33% higher than in 2017, according to Zero Deaths Maryland (ZDM), a database that tracks road safety throughout the state.

The county implemented its sweeping Vision Zero initiative in 2017 with the goal of eliminating all roadway-related fatalities and serious injuries by 2030.

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According to ZDM, not only were there more traffic deaths overall in 2023 than in 2017, but also more pedestrians and bicyclists who died after being struck by vehicles. In 2023, 15 pedestrians and one bicyclist were killed by motorists, compared with 14 pedestrians and no bicyclists killed in 2017.

County Councilmember Natali Fani-González, who represents the district bordering the intersection where the fatality occurred told Bethesda Magazine that “we are moving the needle, but not fast enough.”


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