Steven Dankos, a 17-year-old River Hill High School senior, was killed early Sunday morning in a one-vehicle accident in Ellicott City, according to police reports.

Dankos was a guard and defensive end on the River Hill football team, which lost in the 3A state semifinal, 10-7, Friday night at Huntingtown High School, in Calvert County.

"He was a great kid, very outgoing," said Brian Van Deusen, the River Hill football coach. "He was a hard worker, and he got along with everybody."

Dankos' teammate, senior Thomas Erdman, was seriously injured in the accident, but has since been released from the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center.

The vehicle, a GMC 1500 pickup truck, was being driven by Erdman's older brother, 22-year-old David Dixon Erdman II. David Erdman was charged Sunday with six different counts related to Dankos’ death, including negligent vehicular homicide and negligent vehicular manslaughter. He posted a $10,000 bail that day and was released from the Howard County Detention Center.

Howard County police said officers were called at 2:57 in the morning about the crash by three different people: David Erdman, the owners of the house in front of which the truck crashed, and an anonymous caller. When police reached Folly Quarter Road and Buckskin Lake Drive, the first officer located an overturned pick-up with Dankos lying next to the vehicle, according to charging documents.

Police determined David Erdman to be the driver of the vehicle and said they detected a “strong odor” of an alcoholic drink on his breath, charging documents state. Erdman’s eyes were also allegedly bloodshot, police said. An officer asked Erdman to perform a “field sobriety test,” which he did “unsatisfactorily,” police said.

Officers arrested Erdman and took him to Howard County General Hospital, where his blood was tested for alcohol content. The results of that test are pending, police said.

Dankos was lying in the back flat-bed area of the pickup truck while the Erdman brothers sat in the seats of the truck, according to police. Officers said they believe Erdman was traveling on Folly Quarter Road when he lost control of the vehicle, traveled off the roadway, and overturned, causing Dankos to be ejected from the truck and killed, police said.

Thomas Erdman was released from the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center on Sunday.

Dankos was a standout offensive lineman on the JV as a sophomore in 2007 before moving up to varsity as a junior. He had 17 tackles this season and caused a fumble.

Thomas Erdman is a captain and two-way lineman on the River Hill football team, which had won 40 games in a row -- including two state titles -- before Friday night's loss.

He led the team with 10 sacks and had 79 tackles entering Friday night's game.

David Erdman was a first-team all-county offensive lineman at River Hill in 2004. He started 10 games on the offensive line for Division III Wesley College in Delaware in 2008 as a senior. He majored in business.

Van Duesen, who coached all three of the accident victims, said all were "good kids. It's been very difficult. We're just trying to work our way through this."

Of David Erdman, he said: "I guess he just made some poor decisions that night."

Van Deusen also said Monday was a "tough" day at River Hill High. "We tried to separate the football players (to offer counseling). It's been a tough weekend in general."

The family of Steven Dankos has made arrangements for friends and others to pay their respects at a viewing on Wednesday, Dec. 2, from 4-8 p.m. at St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church, 7501 Adelphi Road, Hyattsville.  In lieu of flowers, the family would like donations made to River Hill High School for a future award/scholarship program. 

A service will be held Thursday, Dec. 3 at 10 a.m., at St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church, with a burial service immediately following at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, in Silver Spring.

Luke Broadwater contributed to this report.

This report has been updated.

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user comments (3)

user hocoterp01 says...

So tragic. A reminder about the hazards of drinking and driving. Thoughts are with the families of all.

Posted 11:09 AM, 11.30.09 | Permalink

user peterpan says...

They are at that age when they think they are invincible. My heart goes out to all of the families.

Posted 3:31 PM, 12.01.09 | Permalink

user belovedcartoonmouse says...

Don't blame the age. Kids and Adults know what is safe and what is not.

Posted 7:59 PM, 12.01.09 | Permalink