Man indicted in DUI-related, relative’s crash death
A Philadelphia man is facing negligent manslaughter and negligent homicide-related charges after one of his relatives died in a Worcester County crash on Thanksgiving Day.
Robert Tabourn Sr., 63, was indicted July 21, court records show. In addition to the negligent manslaughter by automobile, criminally negligent manslaughter by vehicle and related charges, he’s facing charges of driving under the influence of alcohol and driving while impaired, court records show.
He’s charged in the death of Johanna Tabourn, 27, of Philadelphia and with a causing a life threatening injury to Devon Tabourn, according to the case file.
An arraignment and initial appearance are scheduled for Aug. 26 in Worcester County Circuit Court.
The crash happened at about 3 a.m. Nov. 27 on southbound Route 113 south of Blades Road, Maryland State Police said in a November news release. The area is between Snow Hill and Pocomoke City.
Maryland State Police said Robert Tabourn drove a Gold Ford Explorer off the road and into a tree, which rotated the vehicle onto its roof and back onto its four tires.
Johanna Tabourn, who had been trapped in the vehicle, was pronounced dead at the scene, state police said. Robert Tabourn was flown to the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore and the children were brought to Peninsula Regional Medical Center and then the Johns Hopkins Medical Center.
According to an early December article in The Daily Times, Robert Tabourn and Johanna Tabourn lived at the same home, but it was unclear whether he was her father or stepfather, Maryland State Police 1st Sgt. Christopher Davala, the assistant Berlin barrack commander, said at the time.
The minors who were in the back seat of the car when it crashed are Johanna Tabourn’s children.
A 6-year-old girl was not seriously injured, and was released quickly from a Baltimore hospital. Her 9-year-old brother was hospitalized, Davala said at the time.
vjunkin@dmg.gannett.com
410-845-4639
On Twitter @VanessaJunkin