by KATE SHUNNEY
A grand jury in Allegany County, Md. has indicted a Hancock woman on multiple felony charges for her role as the driver in a double fatal car accident along Route 40 last September.
Mariah F. Shoemaker, 19, of Hancock was indicted on July 2 in Allegany County Circuit Court.
According to court records, Shoemaker faces two counts of negligent manslaughter by vehicle or vessel, two counts of negligent manslaughter under the influence, two counts of homicide by motor vehicle while impaired by alcohol, two counts of homicide by motor vehicle while impaired by drugs, reckless driving, driving while under the influence, driving while impaired by alcohol and driving while impaired by drugs.
Shoemaker was the driver of a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt which crashed west of Sideling Hill Creek in Allegany County on September 6, 2019.
Two Maryland men – Matthew Glaze, 24, of Cumberland and Allen Welch, 18, of Hancock — died after being ejected from the vehicle as a result of the crash.
Shoemaker and another passenger, identified as Shawna Mason of Hancock, were injured and hospitalized after the crash.
According to the Maryland State Police, troopers from the Cumberland barracks responded to a single-vehicle crash along eastbound Route 40 in an area west of Hancock. Troopers found the vehicle had driven off the right side of the road. The two male passengers had been riding in the back seat and were thrown from the vehicle.
Court records indicate a bench warrant for Shoemaker’s arrest was issued on July 2 and she was taken into custody on July 8. Shoemaker was released on July 9 on a $20,000 bail set by the court.
Shoemaker is set to appear in Allegany County Circuit Court on August 19 for an initial appearance in the case. According to court records, Cumberland defense attorney James Elliott is representing Shoemaker in the case.
