Driver Guilty in 2023 Fatal Crash
A driver in Virginia Beach was found guilty this week in a 2023 crash that killed two passengers. Further details about the case and the upcoming sentencing were not immediately available.
- The driver is Maxwell J. Schaefer, 27, who was convicted of two counts of involuntary manslaughter, possession of a Schedule I/II drug, and reckless driving endangerment. - The single-vehicle crash happened on May 7, 2023, on Interstate 264 after Schaefer and three passengers left a concert at Peabody's nightclub at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront. - Evidence showed Schaefer was driving at speeds reaching 113 mph when the vehicle veered across all westbound lanes and hit a tree. - Authorities recovered a vial of cocaine from Schaefer's clothing, and hospital tests confirmed drug use, according to prosecutors. - One victim, Todd Reid Marcey, died at the scene. - The second victim, Tajh Dorleans, died from his injuries after being hospitalized for about 10 months. - A third passenger survived the crash but suffered serious injuries resulting in long-term medical complications. - Schaefer's sentencing is scheduled for May 27, 2026.
