Crash At Lusby Restaurant Leads To Drug Charge For St. Mary’s County Woman

LUSBY, Md. — A St. Mary’s County woman is facing a drug possession charge after a crash investigation at a Lusby restaurant led deputies to suspected pills and powder-covered items, according to charging documents.

Suzanne Yaras, 78, of California, Maryland, was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance other than cannabis. She also was cited for negligent driving, reckless driving, driving while so far impaired by drugs or a combination of drugs and alcohol that she could not drive safely, driving while impaired by a controlled dangerous substance, and permitting highway vehicle operation contrary to law.

A deputy responded on May 6, 2026, to the Lighthouse Inn Restaurant and Dock Bar on Solomons Island Road in Lusby for a reported vehicle accident. Police said a gray Lexus was found sitting in the middle of the parking lot, canted at a 45-degree angle, with its front bumper hanging off and damage on multiple parts of the vehicle.

According to charging documents, several people in the parking lot identified Yaras as the driver. A witness told police he heard a loud bang outside, then saw the Lexus operated by Yaras strike multiple vehicles in the parking lot and an adjacent building before attempting to leave.

Yaras told the deputy she had dinner at the restaurant and took her sleep aid for a nap. She said she was attempting to turn around in the parking lot and get into a lane when the collision happened, according to the report.

While speaking with Yaras, the deputy wrote that her speech was slurred, her eyes were bloodshot, her pupils were constricted and she kept smacking her lips as if she had dry mouth. The deputy said he did not smell alcohol on her breath or person.

Yaras agreed to standardized field sobriety testing, according to charging documents. Police said she displayed multiple clues of impairment during the tests, including losing her balance, missing heel-to-toe steps, stepping off line, stopping while walking, putting her foot down, using her arms to balance and swaying.

During a search incident to arrest, police said deputies found three unknown white pills stamped “EP 906” on one side and “2” on the other, suspected Lorazepam, wrapped in napkins in Yaras’ pants pocket.

The report states Yaras said she wanted her personal property transported with her. While retrieving items from her vehicle, police said deputies saw white powder residue inside a blue purse. A search of the purse allegedly found multiple miscellaneous items covered in white powder and another substance, along with multiple unknown white pills.

Yaras later told the deputy the pills in her purse were oxycodone she had kept after surgery the previous year, and that the pills in her pocket were large 600-milligram Tylenol. She also said she had consumed one-quarter of an oxycodone pill around 10 a.m. that morning, according to charging documents.

Yaras was transported to the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office, where a breath test showed a 0.00 blood alcohol concentration. A drug recognition expert exam was conducted, and a blood kit was submitted to Maryland State Police, according to the report.

Yaras was transported to the Calvert County Detention Center and later released on her own recognizance.

A hearing is set for July 1, 2026, at Calvert District Court.

Under Maryland law, the listed drug possession charge carries up to one year of incarceration and up to $5,000 in fines if Yaras is convicted.

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