GAITHERSBURG, Md. — A Montgomery County judge has sentenced a 19-year-old Darnestown man to prison for a May 2025 collision in Gaithersburg that killed an 88-year-old woman and injured another person, closing a case that highlighted the dangers of unlicensed and impaired driving.
Liam Coskun pleaded guilty in June 2026 to grossly negligent manslaughter and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. On or around October 23–24, 2026, he received a sentence of 14 years in prison with all but 18 months suspended, followed by five years of probation. He also received credit for time previously served.
The crash occurred at approximately 8:35 a.m. on May 31, 2025, at the intersection of Sam Eig Highway and Fields Road. Coskun, who was not a licensed driver, was operating a 2018 blue Jeep Compass without permission when he failed to stop for a red light and rear-ended a stopped 2017 blue Toyota Corolla, according to the Montgomery County Police Collision Reconstruction Unit. Investigators determined the crash was avoidable.
Myrtle Gottlieb, a passenger in the Toyota, suffered injuries in the collision and died four days later, on June 4, 2025. The female driver of the Toyota was also injured. Several hours after the crash, Coskun consented to a breath alcohol test that registered a concentration of 0.09.
Assistant State’s Attorney Hannah Gleason prosecuted the case. Coskun’s guilty plea was entered before Circuit Court Judge David Lease. Under the plea agreement, he faced a maximum of 13 years; the final sentence reflected the court’s assessment of the circumstances, including the unauthorized vehicle use and impairment.
The case drew attention to ongoing road safety concerns in Montgomery County, where busy intersections such as Sam Eig Highway and Fields Road see significant traffic volume. Officials have repeatedly emphasized the risks of driving without a license or while under the influence. Coskun remained cooperative with investigators after the crash, and the Collision Reconstruction Unit led the probe that established the sequence of events.
Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office officials have underscored that such sentences aim to hold drivers accountable while addressing community safety. No further details on Coskun’s current status or additional civil proceedings were immediately available. The investigation and court process spanned more than a year from the date of the fatal collision to the final sentencing.
Anyone with additional information related to similar incidents is encouraged to contact the Montgomery County Police Collision Reconstruction Unit.