Darnestown man, 19, pleads guilty in connection with crash that killed woman, 88

Driver had breath alcohol concentration of 0.09 following 2025 Gaithersburg crash, police say

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June 10, 2026 11:53 a.m.

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A 19-year-old Darnestown man pleaded guilty Tuesday to charges of grossly negligent manslaughter in connection with a May 2025 collision in Gaithersburg that injured another driver and resulted in the death of her 88-year-old passenger, the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office said Tuesday in a statement.  

In Montgomery County Circuit Court, Liam Coskun, 19, pleaded guilty to grossly negligent manslaughter and the unauthorized use of a motor vehicle in connection with the death of Myrtle Gottlieb.  

Gottlieb died June 4, 2025, of injuries she sustained in the May 31, 2025, collision, according to the statement. Coskun faces a maximum of 13 years in prison during his sentencing for Oct. 13. 

Coskun turned himself in on Nov. 21, 2025, police said, after a warrant was issued in connection with Gottlieb’s death.  

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According to the state’s attorney’s office, Coskun, who was 18 at the time and unlicensed, was driving a 2018 blue Jeep compass, which he didn’t have permission to use, at around 8:35 a.m. when he crashed into a stopped 2017 blue Toyota Corolla at the intersection of Sam Eig Highway and Fields Road in Gaithersburg. Gaithersburg police responded to the crash scene. 

“An investigation by the Montgomery County Police Collision Reconstruction Unit determined the crash was avoidable and that Coskun failed to stop for a red light before hitting the Toyota from behind,” the state’s attorney’s office said. 

Several hours after the incident, Coskun consented to an alcohol concentration test and police found he a breath alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.09. According to Maryland law, a person can be charged with driving while impaired upon registering a BAC of more than 0.07 and driving under the influence when registering a BAC of more than 0.08.   

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Originally published at Bethesdamagazine