Man Charged with Vehicular Homicide for 2023 Collision on Springfield Highway

Charles H. Holt, 59, is charged with vehicular homicide and reckless endangerment for the December 9, 2023, head-on collision in the 1500 block of Springfield Highway that killed Jurgis Juodenas, 75.

Officers determined that a Volkswagen Beetle, driven by Juodenas, was traveling north on Springfield Highway when a southbound Kia Sorento, driven by Holt, crossed into the northbound lane and collided with the Volkswagen. Juodenas died at the scene. Holt received minor injuries. Both men were wearing their seatbelts.

Holt later told officers that he had just started taking a new medication to lower his blood pressure and had only slept for two hours prior to the crash. He said that he believed he had passed out. The EDR (Event Data Recorder) for the Kia shows that seconds before the crash occurred, Holt was traveling under the speed limit ranging from 50-45 mph. According to witnesses, Holt swerved into oncoming traffic nearly hitting other vehicles before colliding with the Volkswagen.

Holt is charged based on his lack of sleep and taking medication that had warned users to avoid driving until they knew how the medication affected them.