“It has fundamentally changed the course of our lives, casting a shadow over every moment of every day we live,” the boys’ father, Daniel Langenkamp, said in court.
He spoke of the specific effect on their boys.
“Why did this have to happen to us?” one will ask. “I want mama,” the other says repeatedly.
Prosecutors had earlier determined that Reyes Martinez’s driving, while careless, did not meet the threshold of Maryland’s vehicle manslaughter laws, a conclusion that Daniel Langenkamp said in an interview highlights a gap in state law.
“These penalties for killing people with a commercial truck are ridiculous,” he said.
Reyes Martinez said little in court. His attorney, David Moyse, noted that Reyes Martinez has been driving commercial vehicles for 12 years and “is a family man [with] three grown children.” Moyse declined to say more, citing ongoing litigation over the crash.
In court Monday, Montgomery County Assistant State’s Attorney Joshua Wesnidge recounted underlying facts in the case.
On Aug. 25, 2022, at 4:05 p.m., Sarah Langenkamp was legally riding her bike in a bike lane on the right side of River Road heading toward Washington. To her left was Reyes Martinez’s truck, which made a right turn into a building supply company parking lot.
“The defendant did not yield the right of way to Mrs. Langenkamp,” Wesnidge said.
The front right side of his truck struck her and the truck ran over her, Wesnidge said.
As he spoke, Sarah Langenkamp’s parents cried in the back of the courtroom.
“This is an incredible tragedy that could have been avoided and should have never happened,” Wesnidge said, adding, “When you drive a truck that is that large, there is no room for mistakes.”
Montgomery County District Judge Eugene Wolfe noted that Maryland law capped penalties for the offense at a fine of $2,000, imposition of driver’s safety instruction, up to 150 hours of community service and suspension of a driver’s license for seven days to six months. The exact suspension duration, Wolfe said, would be determined by the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration.
“The extent of what I can do in this case is extremely limited,” Wolfe said.
He acknowledged the grief felt by Langenkamp’s family.
“This is a tragic situation,” Wolfe said.
This story will be updated.
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