Driver Arrested Following Gaithersburg Fatal Collision

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, December 18, 2024

Gaithersburg, MD – 24-year-old Maxim Galkin, of Gaithersburg, has been arrested and charged with gross negligence manslaughter by vehicle for his involvement in a fatal collision involving a pedestrian on a riding lawn mower.

On Tuesday, August 20, 2024, Montgomery County Police 6th District and Gaithersburg Police officers, along with Fire Rescue personnel, responded to the area of Great Seneca Hwy., and High Gables Dr., for the report of a collision involving a black 2021 Genesis G70 and the operator of a riding lawn mower.

The victim, 28-year-old Juan Guerrero-Moreno, of Silver Spring , was found unresponsive in the road. Life-saving measures were attempted, and Guerrero-Moreno was transported to an area hospital with serious injuries, where he was later pronounced dead.

The preliminary investigation by the Collision Reconstruction Unit revealed that Galkin was driving at an estimated 100 mph in a 50-mph zone. Despite posted yellow warning signs indicating the presence of pedestrians and an approaching intersection, Galkin’s sedan struck the zero-turn riding lawn mower, while Guerrero-Moreno was crossing Great Seneca Highway’s northbound lanes from west to east. Galkin remained on the scene following the collision.

Galkin was arrested on Tuesday, December 17, and transported to the Montgomery County Central Processing Unit. He was released on a $100,000 unsecured personal bond.

Release ID: 24-604
Media Contact: S.D. Goff
Categories: arrest , fatal-collision