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John Michael Hartman, Jr. has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after being convicted of 10 DUI-related offenses last month in connection to a fatal crash that claimed the life of 89-year-old Donald Reineke.
In October 2022, police said that Reineke was struck by a Chevrolet S10 pick-up truck being driven by Hartman, who was heading east on Route 40 through the intersection at Harmony Road when the two collided in Frederick.
Reineke was pronounced dead at the scene, while Hartman was airlifted to the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore for treatment of his own injuries.
At the hospital, Hartman submitted to a blood test which indicated a result of .08 grams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood, which is above the legal limit, representing his fifth such offense, according to prosecutors.
According to the Frederick County State's Attorney's Office, Hartman was on probation for a reported shooting in September 2020 when he fired several shots into the engine blocks of two vehicles before shouting "have a nice night" to his victim as he fled.
In that incident he pleaded guilty to second-degree assault and illegal possession of a registered firearm. Under the conditions of his probation, Hartman was forbidden from drinking alcohol, a condition he violated before the fatal crash.
"(Hartman) is not only a threat to public safety but a threat to the lives of others," State's Attorney Charlie Smith stated. "He deserves this lengthy sentence.
"Drunk driving can quickly turn into a situation that has a profound impact on the lives of others," he continued. "Most do not realize this at the time that they get behind the wheel.”
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