Crofton Driver Indicted In Fort Meade Marine's Crash Death

GAMBRILLS, MD — A Crofton driver who reportedly was speeding when his car fatally struck a Marine from Illinois stationed at Fort Meade has been indicted for manslaughter. The victim — Lance Corporal James Ray Walden III, 21, of Peoria Heights, Illinois — died Feb. 24 when his Yamaha motorcycle was struck by a Crofton driver.

Anne Arundel County State's Attorney Wes Adams says Martin Martinez-Ballinas, 29, of Crofton, was indicted Wednesday on two felony counts, including automobile manslaughter and related charges by an Anne Arundel County grand jury in the death of Walden.

Martinez-Ballinas was ordered to remain in custody without bail at the Anne Arundel County Detention Center after a court denied his motion seeking his release. Prosecutors argued that Martinez-Ballinas should remain in custody because he did not provide credentials establishing his lawful presence in the United States, his foreign passport, and his failure-to-appear for an earlier unrelated charge.

"My office takes vehicle deaths very seriously and, when the evidence provides, we will pursue these types of cases to the fullest extent allowed by law," said Anne Arundel County State's Attorney Wes Adams in a statement. "In addition, given the fact that Mr. Martinez-Ballinas is a flight risk, I am grateful for Judge McCormack's ruling to keep Mr. Martinez-Ballinas in jail, pending the resolution of these charges."

The crash happened on Patuxent Road near Conway Road in Gambrills. Witnesses told Anne Arundel County Police that a 2007 BMW 335i driven by Martinez-Ballinas was southbound on Patuxent Road when the driver lost control of the vehicle, which crossed the double yellow line into the northbound lane and struck Walden's northbound motorcycle. Walden was thrown from the bike and suffered fatal injuries. A front seat passenger in the BMW — Kevin Rolando Perez Velasquez, 22, of the 1600 block of Heather Place in Crofton — suffered minor injuries.

As police officers arrived, Martinez-Ballinas reportedly fled the scene. Police caught him about a quarter of a mile south of the crash scene hiding in a quarry.

The indictment alleges that the collision was caused by Martinez-Ballinas driving in a grossly negligent manner. While driving southbound on Patuxent Road, the driver exceeded the 35 mph speed limit by about 30 mph.

Walden was pronounced dead by Anne Arundel County paramedics at the crash scene.