Driver whose car went through Germantown living room charged with DUI

The man behind the wheel of a car that slammed into a Germantown townhouse last week now faces a long list of charges for the crash.

Police say the man was under the influence of drugs and alcohol when the car ran into the first floor of the townhouse on Palmetto Circle on March 12.

Police identified the driver as Tony Barnes of Accokeek in Prince George’s County.

“Investigation showed he had a high rate of speed, ran the red light that was there,” said Montgomery County Commander Nicholas Picerno. “When we spoke driver showed signs of impairment.”

The owners of the townhouse were at home when the car crashed into their living room. Fortunately, one was upstairs, and the other was in the basement — and neither person was hurt.

“The policeman told me doing over 100 [mph], and they went airborne, cause if they went straight they would have hit the brick part of my house,” said homeowner Janet Ross. “Because they went airborne, they went straight through the windows.”

Police say Barnes indicated he had used cannabis earlier in the day, and there were signs of alcohol impairment.

Barnes and another person who was in the car at the time of the crash were both taken to the hospital for treatment. Police gave Barnes a long list of citations while he was in the hospital.

That list of charges includes:

• DUI
• Driving impaired by alcohol
• Negligent driving
• Dangerous driving
• Failure to control speed
• Failure to stop

Police say Barnes also ran a red light before the crash happened.

“I think there’s a misnomer that driving while impaired by cannabis is somehow less harmful, or less of a risk, than driving under the influence of alcohol,” said Picerno. “And I think this is a good example of, you can’t drive under the influence of any subject. Any sort of impairment puts the community at risk.”

Police say Barnes faces the possibility of jail time and a suspended license.

“It’s a whole other level of worry that people shouldn’t have to deal with,” Picerno said. “That somebody is driving impaired into their house.”

Almost a week after the crash, the force of the collision is still visible. It mangled a light post in front of the townhouse, which has been condemned.

There’s no word on whether the family will ever be able to move back into their home.