Crash scene photo via MCSAO
A man was sentenced to prison Friday for a deadly wrong-way collision last year on the beltway.
Jayleen Hannor, 24, of Montezuma, Georgia, was sentenced in Circuit Court to serve eight years in prison plus five years of probation after release, according to the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office (MCSAO).
Hannor was charged following the crash in Aug. 2023. This March he pleaded guilty to gross negligent manslaughter by motor vehicle. Other charges included life-threatening injury by motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and failing to remain at the scene of a collision involving death, according to MCSAO.
According to Maryland State Police at the time of the crash, one woman died and nine people were injured in the collision.
Police stated Hannor was driving the wrong way on I-270 to the I-495 outer loop when he crashed into two vehicles at exit 34. He kept driving until he bailed and fled on foot. He was taken into custody a short time after fleeing, according to police.
Police identified the deceased woman as 36-year-old Elizabeth Velez of Easton, Pennsylvania. She was driving a Nissan Pathfinder with her three juvenile children as passengers, as well as a 36-year-old front seat passenger. According to MCSAO, Hannor caused life-threatening injuries to Velez’s 15-year-old daughter.
MCSAO stated another vehicle, a Lexus SUV, could not avoid the wreckage and also crashed into the Nissan. Police previously stated that a driver and four occupants — all adults — in the Lexus were injured and taken to a hospital.
According to MCSAO, the results of Hannor’s breath test showed an alcohol concentration of 0.17, more than twice the legal limit. This was his third drunk driving offense in 13 months. He is also facing charges for two prior incidents in Georgia, per MCSAO.
In a written statement, MCSAO spokesperson Lauren DeMarco said, “We are gratified that the judge agreed that this case deserved a sentence above the Maryland State Sentencing Guidelines range. There were ten victims, including a family that suffered immeasurable loss, and it was entirely preventable.”
