A Washington, D.C. resident was sentenced to seven years in prison after he pleaded guilty to manslaughter in connection with a vehicle crash that killed a Columbia, Maryland man, according to Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s office.
The driver, 30-year-old Jose Badell-Uzcategui, was also sentenced to serve five years of supervised probation upon his release at the Wednesday, May 13 sentencing.
The Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s office said Badell-Uzcategui had previously pleaded guilty to one count of manslaughter by motor vehicle on Jan. 28 for causing the collision that killed 30-year-old Jazz Andrew Taylor.
“We express our heartfelt condolences to the family of Jazz Taylor. The judge appropriately sentenced this defendant above the Maryland State Sentencing Guidelines. The defendant was not only driving while intoxicated but also traveling at a high rate of speed in the wrong direction on the roadway,” said State’s Attorney John McCarthy in a news release following the sentencing.
It happened in the early morning hours of Aug. 6, 2025 when Badell-Uzcategui was driving a silver 2024 Honda CR-V the wrong way on Sandy Spring Road near McKnew Road in Burtonsville, according to a State’s Attorney’s office spokesperson.
Multiple witnesses observed the defendant speeding eastbound in the westbound lanes prior to the collision. A motorist attempted to alert the defendant by flashing their headlights and honking their horn, but the defendant continued on the wrong side of the road until striking the victim’s red 2007 Honda, also a CR-V. The victim’s vehicle was lawfully on the roadway noted the State’s Attorney.
Despite receiving lifesaving efforts by first-responders, Taylor was pronounced dead at the scene.
An investigation concluded that Badell-Uzcategui was traveling between 65 and 68 miles per hour on a 45 mile per hour zone when his vehicle struck Taylor’s vehicle.
