TOWSON, Md (WMAR) — The man charged with leaving the scene after hitting and killing a Johns Hopkins doctor will stay behind bars. A Baltimore County judge ruled 31-year-old Jason Hines from Baltimore is a danger to public safety.
Hines has a prior conviction for leaving the scene after hitting an unattended car in 2010, as well as a handful of speeding citations on his record.
According to court documents, he also admitted to his role in the crash in an interview with police after his arrest, saying “I came down the street, came too fast. I hit a black car and I hurt someone.”
MORE: Hopkins doctor killed in fiery hit and run crash
Hines faces 6 charges and a maximum of 7 years in prison related to leaving the scene after hitting and killing 35-year-old Dr. Nadia Morgan, a researched and instructor at Johns Hopkins who was recently highlighted in a Rheumatology department YouTube video.
“I really love interacting with my patients and as a rheumatologist, it allows for continuity of care,” Morgan said in August. “A lot of this is about my patients. They really do make it worthwhile.”
Doctor Philip Seo, the man who recruited her to Hopkins is stunned at the sudden death of such a rising star.
“Her interest really was looking at minorities with rheumatic disease… relatively rare diseases that affect minorities particularly hard and she was trying to figure out why that occurred and what we could do about it,” Seo said. “She's just irreplaceable. She's just such a unique person.”
Baltimore County Police say Morgan was driving down Falls Road Saturday night when a man drove through a red light, hitting her car and forcing it to flip and catch fire.
Police say they found Hines a short distance away from the crash. At his first hearing, the state asked Hines to be held without bail, pointing out Dr. Morgan had the right of way and that Hines ran away after.
Hines’ defense attorney called the crash a “terrible situation” but said Hines is not a flight risk, asking for home detention so he can keep working.
The judge denied bail.
Seo says Dr. Morgan was just awarded a research grant a few weeks ago and was set to get promoted to an assistant professor soon, she just hadn’t been told the good news yet.
“I think one of the great things about Hopkins is not just the opportunity to see patients with these conditions but to also have the opportunity to apply research and collaborate with patients, with scientists, with other physicians to make meaningful differences and find a breakthrough in treating their disease,” Morgan said in the video.
Hopkins is hoping to hold a memorial for her in January so her family in Jamaica can come if they choose to.
