LEONARDTOWN, Md. — Ashley Nicole Nolan, a 28-year-old resident of Lexington Park, Maryland, has been convicted of felony negligent manslaughter following a drunk driving crash that killed one minor and seriously injured two others. State’s Attorney Jaymi Sterling announced the verdict on March 11, 2025, noting that Nolan faces up to 22 years in prison. The conviction stems from a tragic incident on March 16, 2024, which shook the St. Mary’s County community.
The crash occurred shortly before 1:44 a.m. when deputies from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office responded to a single-vehicle accident near the intersection of Point Lookout Road and Chingville Road in Leonardtown. They found a 2008 Honda Odyssey overturned on Chingville Road. According to the sheriff’s office Collision Reconstruction Unit, Nolan was driving northbound when she failed to negotiate a turn, causing the vehicle to leave the roadway, roll multiple times, and strike a tree. Three juveniles were inside the vehicle, improperly restrained. Two were ejected and transported to trauma centers with life-threatening injuries, while the third, Brysen McKinley Carter, was pronounced dead at MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital. Nolan sustained minor injuries and was also treated at the hospital.
Investigators determined that alcohol and speed contributed to the crash. Following a months-long investigation, Nolan was arrested on October 29, 2024, after an 18-count indictment by the Circuit Court. On March 7, 2025, she pleaded guilty to six charges before Judge Joseph Stanalonis. These include grossly negligent manslaughter by motor vehicle, carrying a maximum penalty of 10 years, and two counts of causing life-threatening injury while driving under the influence, each with a three-year maximum. She also faces three counts of driving under the influence of alcohol while transporting a minor, each punishable by up to two years. Nolan remains in custody without bond at the St. Mary’s County Detention Center, awaiting a sentencing hearing pending a pre-sentence investigation.
Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Michael McGraw prosecuted the case, representing the citizens of St. Mary’s County. Corporal Dale Reppel led the investigation, supported by the sheriff’s office Collision Reconstruction Unit. The case has drawn attention to the dangers of impaired driving, particularly when minors are involved. “No day should ever begin with news like this,” Sheriff Steve Hall said after the crash, as reported by the Southern Maryland Chronicle. “Based on the preliminary investigative information, decisions were made that have caused the loss of the innocent and marred the lives of families in our communities forever.”
The incident has left a lasting impact on Leonardtown, a small community within St. Mary’s County, known as Maryland’s oldest county, founded in 1634. The loss of a young life and the injuries to others have prompted renewed discussions about road safety and the consequences of driving under the influence. Maryland law treats grossly negligent manslaughter by vehicle as a felony, reflecting the state’s firm stance against reckless driving behaviors that endanger lives. The additional charges related to transporting minors while intoxicated underscore the heightened responsibility drivers bear when children are passengers.
As the case moves toward sentencing, the community awaits closure. Nolan’s guilty plea marks a significant step in the legal process, but the emotional toll on the victims’ families and the broader county remains profound. For further details on the initial crash and indictment, updates are available at southernmarylandchronicle.com.
