Pedestrian Struck, Killed By Drunk Driver In Wheaton: Police

WHEATON, MD — A Silver Spring man was killed by an alleged drunk driver while he was walking in Wheaton early Saturday morning, Montgomery County Police said.

A police officer was driving eastbound on University Boulevard West at Amherst Avenue at about 3:23 a.m. when he saw a 2005 Toyota Camry that "appeared to have an object under the vehicle," police said in a statement,.

The officer and the driver — identified as Bianca Paola Machuca, 25, of Hyattsville — made eye contact, and then Machuca accelerated her car into the parking lot of a business, police said.

The officer realized the object under the car was a person who had been dragged by the car and was now lying on the roadway.

The victim was identified as Edwin Diaz, 38, of Silver Spring. He succumbed to his injuries sustained in the collision and died in an area hospital, police announced Monday.

Police believe Diaz was walking east on the eastbound sidewalk of University Boulevard West. He passed an entrance to a business' driveway near Amherst Avenue and was struck by the car, police said. The Camry’s direction of travel is still under investigation.

Machuca was arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol.

This collision investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call the Collision Reconstruction Unit at 240-773-6620.

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