Councilman Mel Franklin Pleads Guilty To Impaired Driving Charge

UPPER MARLBORO, MD — A Prince George's County Council member initially charged with driving drunk last year when he crashed his county-owned SUV into a Mercedes stopped at a red light pleaded guilty to lesser charges Friday and was sentenced to probation. Mel Franklin pleaded guilty to charges of impaired driving and failure to control a speeding vehicle and received probation before judgment.

The Ford Explorer that Franklin drove on Nov. 21, 2016, slammed into the rear of the car carrying Matthew and Teresa Collins on Route 4 in Upper Marlboro. Franklin will pay $645 in fines and court costs; he will not serve time in jail and will not have a criminal conviction on his record.

Franklin issued a statement on Friday apologizing for the crash and urged others to call a cab when intoxicated rather than drive.

“I am deeply sorry to Mr. and Mrs. Collins and take full responsibility for the November 2016 car accident, " Franklin said. "That evening, I let down both Mr. and Mrs. Collins and all of the residents who look to me for leadership and responsibility. I must now begin the hard and necessary work of earning back their trust and forgiveness. With new ride-sharing options like Uber and Lyft at the touch of your fingertips or the traditional options of taxi service or designated drivers, there just is no excuse for getting behind the wheel of a vehicle when you are not in proper condition to drive. I hope others in this region will learn greater caution in their busy lives from my poor judgment.”

Maryland State Police arrested Franklin, who represents the southern third of the county, on DUI charges after the Nov. 21 incident near Upper Marlboro. Numerous media outlets posted photos of the Explorer Franklin was allegedly driving at the time, which showed the front end completely smashed to pieces. Both occupants of the other vehicle were sent to the hospital.

Meanwhile, NBC Washington's Tracee Wilkins said on Twitter that sources told her Franklin ran into the woods after the DUI crash and was found by police. However, the police report indicates that Franklin was walking in the median back to the scene of the crash when he was discovered.

WTOP reports that Franklin's 2016 crash was the third time he has wrecked a county-owned vehicle. Franklin was involved in an October 2012 crash that caused $1,500 damage and a December 2012 accident destroyed his vehicle, both owned by Prince George's County.

Franklin said he has been enrolled in the Maryland Ignition Interlock Program since December and completed a 12-week alcohol education program earlier this year. Probation before judgment in Maryland allows offender to avoid having a conviction entered them for a first offense.

»Image of Mel Franklin via Prince George's County Council