Pennsylvania man indicted related to crash near Hagerstown that killed Frederick-area man

A Franklin County, Pa., man had been indicted on charges including negligent vehicular manslaughter for the death of a Frederick, Md.-area man about a year ago after a crash near Hagerstown, according to court records.

Zachary Jordon Fitzwater, 24, was indicted by a Washington County grand jury in March related to the death of Anthony Ruff.

The warrant was served on Fitzwater in late April, according to his case docket.

Fitzwater is on home detention, with alcohol monitoring, awaiting his trial, which is scheduled for August, according to court records. The conditions of his home detention include abstaining from alcohol and drugs.

Among the eight charges Fitzwater faces through the indictment are negligent vehicular homicide while under the influence of alcohol.

Fitzwater's defense attorney, James Ryan, had no comment for this story.

More court news: Md. man indicted on negligent manslaughter charge in crash that killed Hagerstown couple

What we know about the fatal crash

Maryland State Police responded to the 13100 block of Greencastle Pike around 4:12 a.m. on Sunday, April 23, 2023, for a single-vehicle collision, according to a news release from state police after the crash. Troopers found a blue Honda Civic that had gone off the road for an unknown reason and hit a fence.

The passenger, Anthony Matthew Ruff, 23, was pronounced dead at the scene, the release stated.

State police, in the release, said the driver had fled on foot, but was later found and identified as Fitzwater.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Pa. man charged via indictment related to fatal Hagerstown-area crash