: Anne Arundel Man Gets Seven-Year Sentence for Fatal Pedestrian Crash

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – A Glen Burnie resident has been sentenced to seven years in prison following a tragic incident that occurred on Aquahart Road, a tranquil neighborhood street in the heart of Glen Burnie, State’s Attorney Anne Colt Leitess revealed.

In a shocking turn of events, Austin Keith Seagraves, aged 21, was handed a 25-year sentence, with all but seven years suspended, alongside five years of supervised probation upon release.

“Fidel and Arielle, a newlywed couple, were strolling along Aquahart Road, a picturesque avenue lined with charming homes, when their lives were abruptly altered,” Leitess expressed. “The Defendant’s reckless actions, speeding in a 30 mph zone, and callously abandoning the two injured individuals, have led to this significant sentence. Justice has been served.”

On a fateful evening on August 24, 2022, just before 7 p.m., the serene atmosphere of Aquahart Road was shattered as the tranquility of the neighborhood was disrupted by a devastating collision involving a Toyota Camry and two pedestrians. Witnesses recounted the harrowing sight of the driver fleeing the scene, leaving behind chaos and tragedy in his wake. The driver’s desperate escape was captured in photographs by bystanders as he attempted to evade accountability.

Responding swiftly to the distressing call, Anne Arundel County police rushed to the intersection of Aquahart Road and Oakwood Road in Glen Burnie, where they discovered Fidel Angel Castro, aged 23, and Arielle Starr Dryden-Bera, aged 22, lying gravely injured. Castro was rushed to the renowned University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center with life-threatening injuries, while Dryden-Bera tragically lost her life at the scene of the heart-wrenching incident.

Almost an hour after the tragic crash, the driver of the Toyota, later identified as Austin Seagraves, returned to the scene accompanied by family members. It was determined that Seagraves had been recklessly driving at a speed exceeding 50 miles per hour in a 30-mph zone along Aquahart Road. In a moment of panic, he veered onto the sidewalk in a misguided attempt to evade an obstacle, tragically colliding with Castro and Dryden-Bera. Shockingly, Seagraves concealed his identity by pulling his shirt over his head and fleeing the scene, neglecting to render aid or alert authorities to the dire situation. Additionally, his passengers also fled without offering assistance, compounding the tragedy further.

Following a plea of Guilty to Negligent Manslaughter by Automobile, Leaving the Scene of a Personal Injury Accident, and Leaving the Scene of an Accident Involving Death on May 19, 2023, Seagraves faced justice in the courtroom. The case was skillfully prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorney Carolynn Grammas, with the Honorable Stacy McCormack presiding over the proceedings.

As the community grapples with the aftermath of this heartbreaking incident, the memory of Arielle Starr Dryden-Bera lives on as a poignant reminder of the fragility of life and the consequences of reckless actions on the serene streets of Glen Burnie.

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