Victim Hit By Car Identified in Severn Crash

SEVERN, MD — Authorities said Wednesday that a Glen Burnie man walking on Telegraph Road (MD-170) in Severn was the pedestrian fatally hit by a car this weeked.

Anne Arundel County Police say Kason Allen Donato, 24, of Arundel House of Hope in Glen Burnie, and formerly of Union, N.J., died at the scene about 2 a.m. Sunday.

Alcohol may have played a role in Donato’s death, say police, who are investigating whether the victim and the car’s driver had consumed alcohol.

The accident happened on Telegraph Road (MD-170) near Paul Drive in Severn.

A witness reported that he swerved to avoid Donato in the roadway and stopped to check on him. Before he could reach Donato, a Ford Fusion also southbound on Telegraph Road struck and drove over the pedestrian.

The driver of the Ford did not stop and continued southbound on Telegraph Road, police say. Through vehicle debris left at the scene, a suspect vehicle was identified and officers found the vehicle at the owner’s address, along with a driver and a passenger.

Ryan James Jeffries, 29, of Odenton is the owner and driver of the Ford, police say. His passenger was Ronald G. Hoffman III, 24, of Gambrills.

Jeffries and Hoffman were not injured.

The preliminary cause of the crash appears to be Donato’s unlawful presence in the roadway, police say.

A contributing circumstance was his all-black clothing on an unlit portion of the road. Speed was not a factor, but there was evidence of alcohol use by Jeffries, and possibly by Donato.

Any charges are pending review by the State’s Attorney’s Office.