Md. ‘Bowling Caucus’ outing ends in DUI arrest

An aide to a state senator was arrested driving the wrong way on Route 50 early Thursday morning following a social outing with other legislative staff and nearly a dozen lawmakers.

Katherine Donnelly, 23 of Crofton, was arrested after a police chase on Route 50 that exceeded 70 mph. She is a legislative aide to Sen. Cheryl Kagan, D-Montgomery.

Donnelly was spotted by an off-duty police officer who saw her silver Ford driving westbound in the eastbound lanes of the highway near the Route 301 interchange, according to First Sgt. John Pietanza, a spokesman for the Maryland State Police Barracks in College Park. Donnelly, who at times was spotted using the shoulder to pass cars, was ultimately pulled over at the interchange with Enterprise Road, according to Pietanza.

Pietanza said Donnelly was intoxicated to the point where “she may not have realized that she was being chased or that she was driving on the wrong side of the highway.” Donnelly’s blood-alcohol level was reported at twice the legal limit in tests at the scene and just under twice the legal limit in a subsequent test a short time after her arrest.

No one was injured in the incident. It is unclear where Donnelly entered the eastbound lanes.

Donnelly was charged with driving under the influence, negligent driving, reckless driving, unsafe lane changing, among other counts, according to online court records. She was released on $3,000 bail, according to the records. No lawyer was listed for Donnelly.

Donnelly, who was working in Kagan’s office as of Tuesday morning, was not immediately available for comment.

“Kat is a bright and hard-working member of my team,” Kagan said in a statement Tuesday. “She made a terrible mistake last week and has already taken steps toward ensuring it never happens again.”

Online court records note Donnelly was arrested around 12:15 a.m. A short time earlier, Donnelly was part of a social group primarily made up of lawmakers that calls itself the “Bowling Caucus.” The group typically bowls together at Annapolis Bowl on Generals Highway.

Photos posted on Facebook shows Donnelly with the group that included at least 10 Democratic and Republican members of the House of Delegates, including one who works as an emergency room physician and another who works as prosecutor in Western Maryland.

Kagan was not in attendance.

None of those interviewed said they knew Donnelly or was aware that she was intoxicated. The outing was said to end sometime before midnight.

Del. Brett Wilson, R-Washington County and an assistant state’s attorney there, said the ad hoc group is typically the only group using the lanes on a mid-week evening and usually wraps up before midnight. A number of attendees left a short time after a group photo was taken, although Wilson noted some stayed behind.

Wilson said he didn’t know Donnelly nor that she was Kagan’s aide.

“She was bowling a few lanes down,” he said, noting that he would have said something had he noticed she was intoxicated.

Del. Shelly Hettleman, D-Baltimore County, was also present at the event and said she left shortly after the photo was taken — possibly around 11:30 p.m. She also said she did not know Donnelly.

“If I had noticed someone was that intoxicated, I would have said something,” Hettleman said.