Participant in Fatal Drag Race Sentenced to 5 Years

On Friday, August 19th in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, Judge David Boynton sentenced defendant, Noe Daniel Suriel, 29, of Silver Spring to five years in prison for his role in the death of Rene Antonio Hernandez Jr. Additional details can be found below in the press release sent out at the time of conviction:

In the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, before the honorable Judge David Boynton, a jury has found defendant, Noe Daniel Suriel, 29, of Silver Spring, guilty of Driving a Motor Vehicle in a Race or Speed Contest and Gross Negligent Manslaughter by Motor Vehicle for the death of Rene Antonio Hernandez Jr., 32, of Olney. Suriel is facing a maximum of 10-years in prison. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for August 19^th, 2022. The verdict came in late last night and stems from Suriel’s role in a multiple-vehicle fatal collision that occurred on September 6^th, 2019, along Georgia Avenue at an entrance ramp for MD 200 (the Intercounty Connector- ICC).

A 2018 Dodge Challenger, 2014 Infiniti Q50S, and 2004 Ford Explorer were traveling north on Georgia Avenue.  A 2009 Honda Civic was traveling south on Georgia Avenue and was attempting to make a left turn onto the entrance ramp of eastbound MD 200 (the ICC) when the collision occurred. The Challenger swerved in front of the Civic making glancing contact between the rear portion of Challenger and front bumper of the Civic. The Infiniti then struck the Civic, spun off and was struck by the Explorer. The driver of the Civic, victim, Rene Hernandez Jr, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Numerous witnesses informed investigators that prior to the collision, the Challenger and Infiniti were traveling at a very high rate of speed, weaving through traffic to pass other vehicles, revving engines at stop lights, accelerating heavily from stop lights, and “obviously racing.” Roadway evidence and vehicle damage were also consistent with a high-speed collision. In September 2019, pursuant to a District Court search warrant, an investigator imaged the Infiniti’s Event Data Recorder, which indicated that the Infiniti (which was second in the race behind the Challenger) was traveling 106 mph 5 seconds before striking the Civic.

–The Dodge Challenger was owned and operated by Noe Daniel Suriel.

–The Infiniti Q50S was owned and operated by Camilo Jose Ahumada Serje, 27, of Olney, who pleaded guilty to Gross Negligent Manslaughter by Motor Vehicle in October 2021 and is facing a maximum 10-year sentence. Sentencing hearing scheduled for Sept. 1, 2022.

–The Ford Explorer was owned and operated by Regino Andres Gonzalez Pena, 38, of Gaithersburg, who pleaded guilty to Gross Negligent Manslaughter by Motor Vehicle in May 2022 for joining the race already in progress. He faces an agreed upon maximum sentence of 18-months in prison. Sentencing hearing scheduled for Sept. 7, 2022.

“This should send a message to anyone who would consider the highly dangerous and potentially deadly act of drag racing at excessive speeds. Any driver participating in a race may be convicted of manslaughter by motor vehicle regardless of which vehicle is involved in a fatal collision. I thank Assistant State’s Attorney Kyle O’Grady for his tireless work in prosecuting this case and express deep condolences to the family of the victim, Rene Hernandez Jr.,” said State’s Attorney John McCarthy.