Goucher College student killed by suspected drunk driver in Towson

BALTIMORE -- A Goucher College student was struck and killed by a suspected drunk driver in Towson Saturday afternoon, Baltimore County police said. 

Officers responded around 4:20 p.m. to the 800 block of Providence Road, where a 24-year-old woman had been struck while on the sidewalk. The victim, identified as Eliza Grover, was pronounced dead on the scene. 

The driver, identified as 57-year-old Richard Mays of Towson, remained at the scene and was arrested, police said. 

"When I looked out the window, I could see the truck parked and he was kind of pulling a pole," neighborhood resident Vinita Porter said.  

Mays is charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, attempting to drive a vehicle not equipped with an ignition interlock and related charges.  

Mays was previously charged with drunk driving in Cecil County in July, according to court records.  

Police said that Mays had a "J" restriction with employer's exemption, effective through June 8, 2030, which required him to have an ignition interlock installed in all personal vehicles.  

An ignition interlock connects a car's ignition system to a breath analyzer that measures a driver's alcohol concentration to prevent drivers with a certain breath alcohol content (BAC) from driving.

At the time of the crash, Mays was allegedly operating a work vehicle but was off duty. 

According to charging documents, Mays had "a flushed face with glassy watery eyes," and his breath smelled of alcohol when police spoke to him at the scene.

A receipt found on Mays revealed that he had purchased a 12-pack of Budweiser beers from Total Wine & More at 4:11 p.m., just 10 minutes before the crash, according to charging documents.  

Mays is being held in the Baltimore County Detention Center without bond.    

This is not the first time someone has been injured in a serious crash along this street. Neighbors say it's often a problem for pedestrians in the community.

"I'm not shocked," neighborhood resident Sherrie Barwick said. "This is a very dangerous area."

A crossing guard was struck and killed at the same crosswalk in 2021.

Neighborhood residents like Porter say they want to see more done to stop the speeding. 

"I feel like the only thing that's going to make a difference is a speed camera," she said.

Grover was a Post-Baccalaureate Premedical Program student, Goucher College President Kent Devereaux said in a statement Monday. He said the student-athlete was out for a run. 

"Eliza was very close with her fellow post-baccalaureate class, and generously assisted the Goucher volleyball team, as she played volleyball while attending Brown University as an undergraduate," Devereaux said. "Eliza's death is a tragedy and the entire Goucher community mourns her loss. Our hearts and thoughts are with Eliza's family, friends, classmates and team during this difficult and very sad time."  

Grover's hometown was Menlo Park, California, according to her Brown University Athletics profile.