2 hurt in crash still in hospital

The Baltimore Sun

Two Ellicott City teenagers riding in a car that crashed into a tree last week remained at Maryland Shock Trauma Center yesterday, according to a hospital spokeswoman.

Charles Knode, 16, who was not wearing a seat belt in the back seat of his friend's 2004 Acura RSX, was in serious but stable condition. Justin Arnold, 15, a sophomore at Wilde Lake High School who also was riding in the back seat, was listed in critical but stable condition.

Passengers Michael Piotrowski and John Magwood and the driver, Nikolaus Herstein, 16, all of Ellicott City, have been released from hospitals. Magwood is a sophomore at Mount Hebron High School.

Herstein, a Centennial High School junior, was driving on Gray Rock Drive near Mellor Valley Court about 12:18 a.m. Friday when he lost control of the Acura.

Piotrowski, 14, said yesterday that the group of friends had just picked up Knode, Herstein's classmate at Centennial. Piotrowski, a Centennial sophomore, declined to say where the friends were headed but said that the RSX hit a speed bump before careening off the road.

"The speed bump caused us to lose control," Piotrowski said.

Police said that excessive speed caused the accident, but no charges have been filed against Herstein. Police declined yesterday to say how fast he was driving.

"Yes, there are speed bumps on the road," said Sherry Llewellyn, a police spokeswoman. "Did they drive over one or more than one? Yes. But the absolute factor that caused this crash was driving well above the speed limit."

According to court records, Herstein received a ticket for traveling 90 mph in a 55-mph zone at midnight May 30 on westbound Route 100 near Route 170 in Anne Arundel County.

The case has not been adjudicated.

Given his age, if Herstein is found guilty of speeding, he would have to complete a "driver improvement" class, in addition to any other penalties levied by a judge, according to the state's Motor Vehicle Administration Web site.

If convicted of a second moving violation, his license would be suspended for 30 days in addition to court-imposed penalties. County police have not said whether Herstein violated the state's teen-driving laws.

Provisional license holders are prohibited from driving between midnight and 5 a.m. unless they are with a supervising driver who is at least 21 years old and has had a driver's license for at least three years. There are exceptions for teenagers traveling for work, school activities or athletic events.

Also, during the first five months of a provisional license, a driver younger than 18 cannot carry passengers who are minors and not members of the driver's immediate family - unless a supervising driver is in the car.

melissa.harris@baltsun.com

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