A man suspected of killing three children in a drunk driving crash on Indianhead Highway Sunday night is free while Prince George's County Police continue to collect details in the investigation.
The man, who has not been identified because his is not formally charged yet, was required to surrender his driver's license when he submitted to a breathalyzer test. However the driver was given a provisional driving permit as required by Maryland law, according to a police spokesperson.
Police explained they cannot charge the suspect until an exhaustive investigation including a full accident reconstruction and laboratory blood and toxicology tests are complete.
Investigators say they want to have all details of the case meticulously documented before filing charges because the legal principal of double-jeopardy does not allow them a second chance to get it right if mistakes are made.
The man was driving a pick up truck that rear-ended a sedan that was slowing for a traffic light at the intersection of southbound Indianhead Highway and Kerby Hill Road at around 9:40 p.m. on Sunday.
Three children in the back seat of the sedan were killed.
Two other vehicles were also struck.
Police found no skid marks or other signs that the suspected drunk driver hit his brakes before the crash.
The victims are 5-year-old Alexander Mejia and his twin sister Rosalie Mejia. The twins' 1-year-old brother Isaac Mejia was also killed.
Parents Alexis and Juanita Mejia survived and remain hospitalized at the Prince George's Hospital Center.
The family is from Falls Church, Va.