I'm trying to find an old news story from 1996. A South African diplomat was driving drunk and ran a red light in Washington, DC. He was involved in a head-on collison with a taxi cab. The diplomat was not injured, but one of the victims in the cab died 12 days after the crash. The victim's last name was Baldwin.

I have searched the internet, but can't find any news reference about the story. I vaguely remember hearing about it on CNN when it happened.

Can anyone find any information on this incident?

Hi Oceangurl,

I have been hunting around the net for the story you wanted since your question was first posted. Based upon the information you gave. I cannot find anywhere about any drunk driving accident involving an African diplomat. Nor can I find any information about the name of victim you provided in the post.

I did however; find quite a lot of webs sites that spoke of a diplomat from the Republic of Georgia who in Jan 1997 was charged with drunk driving in the Washington D.C area in which a Brazilian teen who was visiting the United States with her family on a visa was killed during the collision. The name of the teen killed in the accident was Joviane Waltrick of Brazil.

At the time, the President of the republic of Georgia waved the immunity so that Gueorgui Makharadze could stand trial for the charges. He served 3 ½ years in a federal prison in Butner, North Carolina. He was released in October 2002. From articles online he was transferred to a Republic of Georgia prison where he will be paroled in the year 2007.

This information is probably not exactly what you were looking for but it is the only one I could find that spoke of a diplomat who was charged with killing a teen in the Washington D.C area. Within the 1990’s time frame.

Hello-
I have a friend to has access to Lexis-with the info given, here's what she came up with...

The family of Reuben Gray, who died after a car accident involving an American diplomat in Nairobi 2 years ago, filed a civil lawsuit againg the diplomat in U.S. District Court. (Jan 2003)


The accident occurred 5 Feb. 2001, Gray's van was hit head on on Ngecha Rd. in Nairobi. The other vehicle was driven by Dirk Dijkerman, the head of the USAID mission in Kenya. Because Gray's wife, Leslie Fair-Gray, was an employee of the UN at the time, the agency investigated the death. They found Dijkerman had been coming from a party on the night of the accident and was driving excessively fast with headlights on high beams. He was also on the wrong side of the road. Dijkerman left the country a few days later and Kenyan authorities didn't charge him.

Gray was 42 at the time and died 2 days after the accident. His 17 yr. old son underwent hip surgery and will likely suffer lifelong complications.

One issue that needs resolved is whether or not Dijkerman has diplomatic immunity. In some cases governments waive it. Notably a case in 1997, in which Georgian diplomat Gueorgui Makharadze killed a 16 yr. old girl in an auto crash. Georgian officials waived his immunity and he served about half a seven year sentence before being released for health reasons.

Whatever diplomatic immunity Dijkerman had asserted in Kenya may not protect him in the US.
Dijkerman's attorney expected the case would be defended by the US government.

The lawsuit claims Dijkerman left the scene of the accident escorted by US Embassy officials and security personnel while the victims were trapped in their vehicle. Westerners in Kenya are said to leave the scene of an accident because they fear local vigilante justice.

Dijkerman's attorney said he did not leave the scene until the Grays were loaded into a truck and transported to hospitals. Dijkerman suffered no injuries.

The family is seeking damages ($172 million) and wants the driver held accountable for his actions.

Again, not exactly the story but this is what came up on a search when the elements you posted were entered.

Thanks for the help everyone. Unfortunately, the story I am searching for is for a man named Howard Baldwin who was killed in a traffic acccident when a South African diplomat crashed into the cab he and his daughter were riding in.

I have not had any luck finding anything about it, but I appreciate you all helping me search.

Nothing of this story seems to appear online. Would it make any sense to do it the old fashioned way and contact The Washington Post?

The Washington Post
1150 15th Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20071

I don't know if this resource will be forthcoming, but why not give it a whirl?

Embassy of South Africa
3051 Massachusetts Ave, NW
Washington, DC 2000
Tel: (202) 232-4400