Woman held in fatal crash
Driver charged with DUI in deaths of 5-year-old girl and her grandmother
Baltimore Countypolice have arrested a 22-year-old Timonium womanon charges of driving under the influence and vehicular homicide in the recent crash that killed a 5-year-old girl and her grandmother.
Callie Noble Schwarzman was arrested Tuesday night on charges that she violated probation for a 2017 drunken-driving offense in Carroll County. Investigators obtained a warrant for her arrest Wednesday for charges related to the deaths of 60-yearold Deborah Limmer and 5-year-old Delaney Gaddis.
Limmer was walking early Monday morning with her granddaughter when police said Schwarzman’s SUV veered onto the sidewalk and struck them. Schwarzman was traveling south on Girdwood Road and lost control just south of Treherne Road, near Dulaney High School. Schwarzman
A search of Schwarzman’s Kia Sorento revealed “evidence of alcohol and controlled dangerous substance,” police said.
“Schwarzman, who was transported to Greater Baltimore Medical Center, consented to a blood test which was submitted to the Maryland State Police Forensic Sciences Division for analysis,” Baltimore County police wrote in a release announcing her arrest. “The results of the test remain pending.”
Schwarzman faces charges that include driving while impaired by alcohol and controlled dangerous substances, negligent manslaughter by automobile and homicide by motor vehicle while impaired by drugs and alcohol.
She is being held without bail, pending a review hearing. An attorney was not listed in online court records.
Schwarzman’s record shows previous traffic offenses. In June 2017, she was charged with driving while impaired by alcohol in Westminster. A judge sentenced her to probation before judgment — a probation that was set to end in September. A violation-ofprobation warrant was issued Tuesday, though the terms of her probation could not be determined.
Thecrash stunned residents in LuthervilleTimonium and renewed their calls for safer roads.
For hours Monday morning, Joe Hartnett told his two young daughters not to look out the windows of their home.
Just beyond their front yard were police tape, a swarm of reporters and a smashed red stroller.
Residents said the crash seemed bound to happen in the residential neighborhood where cars often speed and traffic-calming measures have provided little relief.
“Two people were killed — a loving grandmother and her granddaughter — doing something as simple and special as taking a walk,” Hartnett said. “Twopeople were killed. Something needs to be done to prevent this.”
Baltimore CountyCouncilmanWadeKach, whorepresentsthe neighborhood, is holding a community meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Pot Spring Elementary School to get neighbors’ input onwhatshould be done.
In the past year, police have responded to nine car crashes in the roughly 1-mile stretch of Girdwood Road between Pot Spring and Padonia roads, according to county data. That doesn’t include minor incidents that aren’t phoned in.
Near the site of Monday’s crash, there’s already a median, a speed bumpanda25mph speed limit.
Neighbors have some ideas: more stop signs, higher sidewalks, additional speed bumps — and perhaps turn the intersection into a roundabout or a dead-end road.
Hartnett said he hopes the tragedy “forces a change” in the community.
Since the deadly crash, some neighbors said they’ve kept their children from playing in their front yards.
Hartnett’s 10-year-old and 7-year-old daughters have been afraid to go outside.
“TheygetscaredwhenIwalktothecorner, they get scared whenmywifeisnothome,” he said. “They’re afraid of the cars.”
Catherine Newman said her 4-year-old son has been asking questions about the memorial that’s been constructed near the site of the crash. Stuffed animals, flowers and a cross sit in front of a red sign that urges people to “drive like your kids live here.”
Newmanhashadtoexplain to her son why he can’t touch the colorful toys and flowers.
“I tried to be as delicate with him as possible,” shesaid. “I said they weretherefora little girl.”
Newman has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help the families with funeral costs. Thefundraising pageeulogizes Delaney as a “beautiful little girl” whoselife was“taken from this world just as it was beginning.”
She “loved her family, friends and enjoyed playing animals. Her smile and laughter would light up the atmosphere the moment she would walk into a room.” She was the daughter of a Baltimore County police officer.
LimmerwasanurseatSinaiHospital“who spent her nights taking care of those who needed it.”
“She was a funny, vibrant, and loving mother and grandmother,” the GoFundMe page reads. “Deborah's family and friends are heartbroken from the loss of their cherished mother, grandmother, sister and friend.”
The GoFundMe had raised more than $10,000 by 7 p.m. Thursday.
“The whole community is just really wanting to do what they can for this family,” Newman said.