He will be serving his sentence at the Frederick County Work Release Center.
Frederick, Md. (KM) – An Emmitsburg man who was involved in street racing almost two years ago which resulted in one person’s death was sentenced on Tuesday.
The Frederick County State’s Attorney’s Office says Noah Kyle Wetzel, 21, pleaded guilty to criminally negligent manslaughter by motor vehicle. He received three years incarceration with all but six-months in jail followed by five-years probation. He will be serving his time in the Frederick County Work Release Center. He must perform 100 hours of community Service within one year of his release from incarceration. .
Wetzel also pleaded guilty to failure to remain at or return to the scene of an accident involving death. For that, the judge gave him five years behind bars with all time suspended. That will run concurrent to his sentenced for criminally negligent manslaughter.
In summary, Wetzel received a total of eight years with all but six months suspended, the State’s Attorney’s Office says.
In the street racing incident on Friday, March 20th, 2020, on Clemsonville Road, in Union Bridge, Wetzel was the driver of a pickup truck with three people in the rear of the vehicle. The truck went off the road, spinning its tires, and then came on the road while continuing to spin its tires. Two of the people in the rear fell out.
Both were taken to University of Maryland Shock Trauma in Baltimore. . One of them w as Michael Fritz, 22, who died two days later
The State’s Attorney’s Office says the family of the victims provided impact statements to the court.
In handing down Wetzel’s sentence, Circuit Court Judge Theresa Adams said “”this is an absolute tragedy.” .
By Kevin McManus