SALISBURY, Md.— Maryland State Police say a Pennsylvania woman driving a Jeep is facing negligent manslaughter and other charges following a Salisbury crash that killed her 11-year-old daughter.
Troopers said that at around 2:38 p.m. Sunday, 38-year-old Tabitha J. Dobrzynski of Kensington, Pa., was driving a 2004 Jeep Wrangler on the Route 13 Bypass south of Route 13 Business when she lost control and overturned the vehicle.
"It went from the fast lane to the slow lane off the shoulder," said MSP Trooper First Class Mark Miller. "It appeared that the vehicle had rolled several times."
Police said Dobrzynski's 11-year-old daughter, who was not wearing a seat belt, was ejected from the rear seat of the vehicle and died as a result of her injuries.
Dobrzynski's three other children- who were also riding in the Jeep- were transported to Peninsula Regional Medical Center in Salisbury for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
According to court records, an investigation revealed that Dobrzynski was on four prescription medications at the time of the crash. She admitted that she had taken two Vicodine (narcotic pain reliever), one oxycodone (narcotic pain reliever), one Prozac (anti-depressent), and two Soma (muscle relaxant). Dobrzlynksi was reportedly confused about where she was driving and how she got there, court records show.
"The roadways seemed to be clear," Miller said. "From witness statements, it didn't appear that there were any vehicles that had swerved in front of her and caused her to run off the roadway."
The roadway was closed for six hours as crews worked to clear the crash scene, causing major traffic jams.
Debra Groh of Salisbury was leaving the Centre at Salisbury mall on Sunday and found her normal route to her home in west Salisbury blocked off.
"It's a terrible thing that these children were hurt and it was under the influence of drugs by the parent, the actual parent, that's kind of shocking," Groh said.
And while Dobrzynski will have to answer for her actions, Groh thinks some of the consequences will be worse than anything that might be handed down in a court of law.
"I think one of the worst things, punishments that she's probably going to encounter, is knowing, for the rest of her life, that she killed her own daughter," Groh said.
In addition to the charge of negligent manslaughter by motor vehicle, Dobrzynski was also booked on the charges of life-threatening injury by motor vehicle-drugs, life-threatening injury by motor vehicle-CDS, driving under the influence, negligent driving and possession of CDS. She is being held in the Wicomico County Detention Center in lieu of $35,000 bond.
Maryland State Police said Sunday afternoon's crash killed an 11-year-old girl and left three other children injured.
Tabitha J. Dobrzynski (Photo provided by Wicomico County Detention Center)
