Background: The scene of the crash on Annapolis Road in Bladensburg, Maryland, on Oct. 18, 2025 (WTTG/YouTube). Inset: Ashley Hernandez Gutierrez (GoFundMe).
A Maryland man has received his sentence for a tragic incident where he drove into a child’s birthday party, resulting in the death of a woman and leaving others trapped under his car before fleeing the scene, officials report.
Sixty-six-year-old Sunday Joseph has been handed a 10-year prison sentence after admitting guilt to charges of failing to stay at the accident scene where it was evident a fatality had occurred, along with 14 counts of reckless driving, according to an announcement by the Prince George’s County State’s Attorney’s Office on Thursday.
The accident claimed the life of 31-year-old Ashley Hernandez Gutierrez.
On October 18, 2025, Hernandez Gutierrez and at least 13 others were gathered in a tent on the front lawn of a house on Annapolis Road in Bladensburg, Maryland. They were celebrating a child’s birthday, an event that was meant to be “a joyful night of celebration,” as described in a GoFundMe page set up in memory of the victim stated.
During the festivities, Joseph backed his vehicle along the road, “jumped the curb and crashed” into the tent, as detailed by the state’s attorney’s office.
Following the crash, Joseph switched off the car, took the keys, and fled the scene, according to a report from regional NBC affiliate WRC. Authorities noted that individuals were trapped beneath the vehicle, which had to be lifted to free them.
Hernandez Gutierrez was killed, while at least eight children and five adults were injured, according to the prosecutorial agency. Law enforcement responded, but Joseph was not there.
Prosecutors reportedly suggested that Joseph may have been under the influence before and during the crash but that they couldn’t prove it because he had left the scene. The defendant’s attorney mentioned that he has a medical condition that causes his legs to feel numb, suggesting that could have been the cause of the crash.
About 10 hours later, Joseph turned himself in to law enforcement.
By sentencing Joseph to 10 years in prison, the judge gave him more than state sentencing guidelines and the state’s recommendation, per the local outlet. He is also not allowed to drive and must perform eight hours of community service on every anniversary of the crash.
Still, families of the victims told WRC that the sentence wasn’t enough.
“I’m suffering from depression and traumatic things,” one said. “I can’t even sleep at night because of this incident. I don’t even want to be behind the wheel, to be honest, anymore.”
“Children looking at birthday parties will never look at birthday parties the same,” stated another. “They always think it’s going to be a tragedy, and it’s not fair.”
Before his plea, Joseph was set to have a jury trial in June, court records reviewed by Law&Crime show.
“This devastating event has left the entire family heartbroken and struggling to comprehend how such a tragedy could occur during what was meant to be a joyful night of celebration,” the fundraiser set up for Hernandez Gutierrez stated. “Ashley was deeply loved by all who knew her—her warmth, kindness, and caring nature touched everyone around her.”
