Potomac resident Dr. Gabriel Berrebi remains in critical condition after being struck by a van while walking along Falls Road on the morning of Oct. 22.
Berrebi, 51 of the 8900 block of Wooden Bridge Lane, was walking southbound on Falls Road near Victory Lane at approximately 8 a.m. with his friend Philip Marks, 51 of Silver Spring, when both were hit by a white, commercial van also traveling south.
The driver of the van, Raymond Michael Dlouhy, 20 of Frederick, fell asleep at the wheel, say Montgomery County Police.
There is no sidewalk in that area of Falls Road.
“The van would not have had to drift very far,” said police spokesperson Lucille Bauer. Had there been a sidewalk, the van may still have jumped the curb. “It is certainly possible,” Bauer said.
Marks was taken to Suburban Hospital where he was treated for serious injuries, say police.
Berrebi was flown to Baltimore Shock Trauma via a helicopter that landed near Washington Hebrew Congregation.
No charges have been filed. The Police Collision Reconstruction Section was investigating the incident and had Falls Road closed until 11 a.m. that morning. The investigation is likely to be lengthy. “It takes weeks and even months,” Bauer said.
Once the investigation is complete, the police will meet with members of the State’s Attorney’s Office to determine if any charges will be filed. “It’s that panel that determines what charges are filed,” Bauer said.