A Maryland man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after he crashed his car into a birthday party tent — killing a 31-year-old woman and injuring 13 others — and then fled the scene.
Sunday Joseph, 66, pleaded guilty to fleeing the scene of a deadly accident and 14 counts of reckless driving, the Prince George’s County State’s Attorney’s Office announced.
The victim — Ashley Hernandez Gutierrez — was 31 years old.
What happened that night
On October 18, 2025, a family had gathered in a front yard tent on Annapolis Road in Bladensburg, Maryland — just outside Washington D.C. — for a child’s birthday party.
Joseph reversed his car along the road, jumped the curb, and crashed directly into the tent. At least 8 children and 5 adults were trapped underneath the vehicle.
Instead of helping, he turned off his car, grabbed his keys, and ran. Rescuers had to lift the vehicle to free the victims. Hernandez Gutierrez did not survive.
What the judge decided
The judge sentenced Joseph to 10 years — more than what prosecutors had recommended. He is also banned from driving for life and must perform 8 hours of community service every year on the anniversary of the crash.
Joseph turned himself in roughly 10 hours after the crash.
Victims speak out
“Children looking at birthday parties will never look at birthday parties the same. They always think it’s going to be a tragedy — and it’s not fair.”
“I’m suffering from depression and traumatic things. I can’t even sleep at night because of this incident.”
Families of the victims told local media that the 10-year sentence was not enough.
Prosecutors noted they suspected Joseph may have been under the influence but could not prove it since he had fled. His attorney cited a medical condition causing leg numbness as a possible cause of the crash.
