The man who officials believe was driving drunk on a backroad in Carroll County before causing a fatal car accident has a history with driving impaired, court records show.
Dakota Kincaid, 26, of East Rochester, was involved in a crash on the evening of March 20 that killed 71-year-old Patrick Snow of Malvern. The accident happened in Augusta Township on Andora Rd. NE near Marble Rd.
Troopers say Kincaid’s Ford Escape crossed the center line, colliding with Snow’s Voyager before veering off the road, striking a tree, and overturning. Snow’s vehicle came to a stop off the right side of the road. Snow was transported to Aultman Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Kincaid was transported to Mercy Hospital where he remains in critical condition.
Carroll County court records show that Kincaid, the suspected driver in this fatal crash, had just closed a court case days before the crash, regarding another impaired driving incident. With the closure of that court case, it resulted in Kincaid avoiding jail time – despite a lengthly history of alcohol and drug charges in Carroll County.
Between 2016 and 2019, Kincaid was convicted three times in drugs and driving under the influence cases, Carroll County court records show. Most recently on Oct. 26, 2023, he was arrested for operating a vehicle under the influence. He was initially charged with two counts related to the 2023 incident, including driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Just last week, a mere five days before the crash that killed Snow, Kincaid accepted a plea agreement for the 2023 case that changed count one from driving under the influence (which was a felony) to having physical control of a vehicle while under the influence (which is a first-degree misdemeanor). The plea agreement resulted in the second count against Kincaid to be dismissed.
With the conviction, the Court sentenced Kincaid to 180 days in the Carroll County jail, however, the sentence was suspended and Kincaid was given 19 days credit for time already served, resulting in no further time behind bars. He was sentenced to one-year probation and a $500 fine. Part of Kincaid’s probation terms were: “Defendant shall engage in no further illegal activity” and he “shall not possess, use, purchase, or have under his control any alcohol, narcotic drug or other controlled substance.”
Five days after the sentencing, the fatal accident involving Kincaid and Snow happened on Andora Rd NE.
Officials say Kincaid remains hospitalized in critical condition.
Just days before the deadly crash, Kincaid posted to his Facebook page that he was in a “tragic crash.” It’s alleged that he was in another Minerva-area crash and fled the scene on foot with another occupant. It’s unclear who was driving and why they allegedly fled the scene.