UPDATE: What Is Known Today In Teen’s Fatal Hit-And-Run Collision

BERLIN – The investigation into the fatal hit-and-run collision that took the life of a rising ninth grader continued this week as the family and community prepare to celebrate the teen’s life Saturday.

As of Friday, July 22, here’s a compilation of what is known as more details have been confirmed.

• The Incident: A black Mercedes was driving eastbound on July 11 around 10:45 p.m. on Grays Corner Road, a short cut used by locals to avoid the Routes 589 and 50 traffic light that runs parallel to Route 50 between Glen Riddle Lane and Route 589. The vehicle struck and killed Gavin Knupp, 14, of Ocean Pines. Knupp was reportedly a pedestrian on the road and was returning to a nearby vehicle when the collision took place. Knupp was pronounced dead at Atlantic General Hospital shortly after the collision.

The vehicle fled the scene and did not return. Police reportedly canvassed the area with residents in Glen Riddle reporting police asked permission to search garages and properties for the vehicle. On Sunday, July 17, six days after the incident, at 1;30 a.m., the Mercedes identified as the vehicle in the collision was seized from a home in the Ocean Reef community. The vehicle, which reportedly matched the suspected damages sustained in the collision, was towed to the Maryland State Police Berlin Barrack for further processing.

The press release stated, “Maryland State Police continue the search for the individual operating the Mercedes at the time of the incident. Anyone who witnessed this crash, or who may have information about the operator of the suspected vehicle, is urged to contact Maryland State Police Corporal Kevin Moore of the Maryland State Police Crash Team at 410-819-4721. The investigation continues…”

• The Investigation: Though unconfirmed through official channels, details are beginning to come into focus on the incident and subsequent investigation. Police have identified a 21-year-old local man as a suspect of interest in the collision and has been confirmed by this newspaper as the driver who left the Ocean Pines Yacht Club in a black 2011 Mercedes on July 11 minutes before the fatal collision. Conflicting reports have been provided to the newspaper on the suspect’s whereabouts, but as of Monday police did not know his whereabouts according to the MSP press release. Until police officially release more information and the filing of charges, which are said to be pending, The Dispatch will not identify the suspected motorist.

State’s Attorney Kris Heiser said Tuesday her office could not comment on the situation, reporting the MSP Investigation Crash Team is handling the probe at this point. Once charges are filed, Heiser’s prosecution team then moves ahead with a case, which may or may not be presented to a grand jury for an indictment. Similar, but not identical, collisions in the past have resulted in negligent manslaughter by a motor vehicle charge, most notably a situation in 2019 in Ocean City when a motorist killed a 51-year-old motorist on Coastal Highway and fled the scene of the collision before crashing his vehicle. The motorist was sentenced to 15 years in jail for the negligent manslaughter by motor vehicle charge and an additional two years for operating a vehicle without an ignition interlock device, as required by a previous drunk driving conviction. It should be noted the driver responsible for this fatality was proven to be driving drunk and had a history of drunk driving arrests.

Court records confirm the black Mercedes seized last weekend belongs to the 21-year-old person of interest and was driven by the man in a traffic violation in March of this year and a speeding violation in November of 2020. At least three individuals have been connected to the incident – the motorist, his mother and his mother’s boyfriend. It’s unclear if police have interviewed any or all of the individuals as of Friday.

• Statements Issued: Amid innuendo and speculation about one or more employees’ connection to the hit-and-run fatality, Matt Ortt Companies, which operates the Ocean Pines food operations, including the yacht club, as well as several other local restaurants, issued a statement on social media confirming a partner in the business had some level of involvement in the situation. The statement, which was ultimately removed from social media after a scathing response from community members, defended partner Ralph DeAngelus, whose girlfriend is the mother of the person of interest.

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