Date: Fri 27-Oct-1995

Publication: Bee

Author: CURT

Quick Words:

obits-DeFrance-hit-and-run

Full Text:

College Student From Newtown Killed In Hit And Run

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - A late-night walk to a convenience store turned deadly for

Michael S. DeFrance of Newtown and another University of Maryland student.

Both were struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver early Sunday, October 22.

Mr DeFrance, the son of Dr John and Jeanne DeFrance of West Farm Ridge Road,

and his friend, Brian J. Hull, 23, died of massive head and chest injuries

less than an hour after they were hit by a 1978 Chevy Blazer, Prince George's

County Police spokesman Cpl Kenneth Scott said.

Michael, a senior at the university majoring in architecture, is survived by

his parents and three brothers: John D. DeFrance of Los Angeles, and Jason L.

and Mark A. DeFrance of Newtown.

The service for the 1991 Newtown High School graduate was Thursday. The Rev.

Terry Pfeiffer officiated. Burial was at the Newtown Village Cemetery.

Contributions can be made to the building fund for the Newtown Methodist

Church.

Michael, born in Harrisburg, Penn., was a National Honor Society student at

Newtown High School as well as a member of the wrestling team. At the

university, he was an honors student and was the student liaison to the

American Institute of Architecture.

Prince George's County Police took into custody a 48-year-old College Park

resident who was leaving a McDonald's near the accident scene in a damaged

Chevy Blazer, Cpl Scott said. The suspect was identified by witnesses as the

driver of the truck.

The suspect failed a breath-alcohol test. The driver was released without

being charged, Cpl Scott said. The state's attorney's office will investigate

the accident and determine whether charges will be filed, Cpl Scott said.

The driver could be charged with vehicular manslaughter, driving while

intoxicated and leaving the scene of an accident, police said.

Witnesses said the driver may have sideswiped several telephone poles before

hitting Mr Hull and Mr DeFrance as they walked in a crosswalk at the

intersection of Baltimore Avenue and Berwyn Road around 2:15 am.

Police and witnesses said they didn't know if the traffic light was red or

green when the driver went through.

Friends of the victims said the two men had gone to the store to buy charcoal

for cookout. Andrew Majett, a witness, said he notified police of the Chevy

Blazer in the restaurant parking lot.

"I saw two people lying in the road and when I got to McDonald's, I saw this

truck that was pretty bashed up and this guy inside seemed drunk," Mr Majett

said. "I went back to where the cops were and they followed me back and

blocked" in the Blazer that was about to leave, he said.

(Associated Press reports were used in this story.).