In the early hours of June 18, 2025, tragedy struck in the quiet suburban community of Derwood, Maryland. Just before 1 a.m., a man identified as Godofredo Gonzales Zelaya, 46, was killed in a violent hit-and-run collision near the intersection of Frederick Road and Indianola Drive. His death, sudden and senseless, has not only left a trail of unanswered questions but has also created a harrowing complication for authorities: no one has yet come forward as his next of kin.

As the Montgomery County Police Department scrambles to locate family members and provide Zelaya the dignity of being mourned and remembered by loved ones, they have made a public plea for assistance. This appeal, striking in its urgency and its heartbreak, underscores not only the tragedy of the incident but also the persistent dangers facing pedestrians in high-traffic areas—particularly in the context of impaired driving and hit-and-run crashes.

The Incident: A Fatal Encounter on Frederick Road

Frederick Road, a long-standing arterial route running through Derwood and greater Montgomery County, is no stranger to vehicular incidents. But in the quiet hours of this particular Wednesday morning, it became the site of a deeply tragic and deeply human story. According to law enforcement officials, a 2018 Honda Accord was traveling northbound when it struck a pedestrian near the intersection of Indianola Drive—a location flanked by both residential areas and segments of commercial activity.

The victim, later identified as Godofredo Gonzales Zelaya, was declared deceased at the scene. What followed would only intensify the anguish: the driver of the vehicle fled immediately after the impact, committing an offense that compounds both the moral and legal consequences of the crash.

Police wasted no time in locating the suspected driver. Within hours, authorities were able to track down the individual and take them into custody. According to initial reports, the driver was suspected of operating the vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs, though their name had not been released to the public as of the latest updates. Their DUI arrest adds yet another tragic layer to an already preventable fatality, reinforcing longstanding concerns about impaired driving across Maryland’s roads.

Godofredo Gonzales Zelaya: A Life Interrupted, A Family Unknown

The heart of this tragedy lies not merely in the fatal impact or the DUI arrest—it lies in the ongoing mystery that surrounds Godofredo Gonzales Zelaya’s personal story. While police have formally confirmed his identity, they have not been able to locate any family members. There are no known relatives who have come forward, no emergency contacts who could be reached, no local acquaintances who could provide insight into his life.

As a result, the Montgomery County Police Department has issued a public request for assistance in locating any relatives or individuals who may have known Zelaya personally. The Collision Reconstruction Unit, which continues to handle the investigation, has asked the public to reach out directly at 240-773-6620, stressing that all communication will be treated with compassion, confidentiality, and discretion.

This situation—where a victim dies and yet remains, in some sense, alone—has struck a chord across the Derwood community and beyond. It forces a confrontation with uncomfortable realities: how individuals in a densely populated region can still live in social isolation; how undocumented or immigrant populations may go unrepresented in systems of record; how poverty, displacement, or language barriers might leave someone untraceable even in death.

Hit-and-Run Crashes: A National Epidemic with Local Reverberations

The case of Godofredo Gonzales Zelaya is tragically emblematic of a wider epidemic: hit-and-run crashes have been on the rise nationally. According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more than 2,000 people die each year in hit-and-run incidents, a figure that has been increasing steadily since the early 2010s. In Maryland alone, hit-and-runs involving pedestrians are a persistent and growing concern.

Montgomery County, with its combination of suburban sprawl and urban arterial roads, is particularly susceptible. Intersections like Frederick Road and Indianola Drive serve both local traffic and commuter flows, making them inherently more dangerous during off-peak hours when visibility is reduced, and traffic speeds often increase. The time of the crash—just before 1 a.m.—adds another layer of risk, with impaired driving statistically more likely during late-night hours.

This is not the first fatality on Frederick Road, and unless systemic changes are made, it may not be the last. The community’s frustration is growing louder, particularly as the names of the dead continue to accumulate, sometimes without family, sometimes without justice.

DUI and Legal Consequences: The Road to Accountability

The suspected DUI and the act of fleeing the scene carry serious legal consequences in the state of Maryland. If charged and convicted, the driver could face multiple felony counts, including vehicular manslaughter, DUI causing death, and leaving the scene of a fatal accident. Each of these charges carries potentially lengthy prison terms, steep fines, and the revocation of driving privileges.

But beyond the courtroom, there remains a deeper societal question: how can such tragedies be prevented? The answer involves more than prosecution. It lies in education, prevention, stricter DUI enforcement, public awareness campaigns, and improved pedestrian infrastructure.

For the family—if and when they are found—the legal ramifications may mean little in the face of irreversible loss. But they do serve a broader purpose: ensuring accountability, deterring future incidents, and reaffirming the community’s collective commitment to justice and safety.

The Isolation of the Unidentified: Social Implications

That no family has yet come forward for Godofredo Gonzales Zelaya speaks to the silent tragedy of modern life—where individuals, especially those on the economic or social margins, can disappear in plain sight. He may have been a laborer, a service worker, or someone living in temporary or informal housing. He may have recently arrived in the U.S., or he may have lived here for decades. What we do know is that, even in death, he is currently alone—unclaimed, unnamed in any home, unseen in any known obituary column aside from law enforcement bulletins.

This anonymity is not uncommon. In many municipalities, particularly those near large metro regions like Washington, D.C., police departments routinely encounter victims with no immediate next of kin on record. The implications are significant: medical examiner delays, unclaimed remains, difficulties in arranging funerals, and the inability to provide culturally appropriate rites of passage.

Montgomery County officials are doing what they can—reaching out to local consulates, immigrant advocacy groups, and regional communities that may have insight into Zelaya’s life. But unless someone recognizes his name, his face, or the description released in connection to the incident, the case may remain stalled—not legally, but emotionally.

Pedestrian Safety: A Crisis Needing Attention

This incident also reignites debate around pedestrian safety, a topic that has gained increasing national traction in recent years. From urban design flaws to distracted driving, the causes of pedestrian fatalities are multifactorial, but preventable. Frederick Road is a major corridor, and intersections like Indianola Drive are often inadequately lit and poorly marked for pedestrian crossings.

Whether Zelaya was in a crosswalk, approaching one, or walking along the road shoulder remains unclear. Investigators have not confirmed whether speed, visibility, or environmental conditions played a contributing role, though all are plausible given the time and setting. These unknowns remain part of the ongoing Collision Reconstruction Unit investigation, which could later influence local decisions about speed reductions, traffic-calming measures, or the installation of additional pedestrian signals.

A Community Responds: Grief, Outrage, and Advocacy

In the wake of the tragedy, members of the Derwood community and broader Montgomery County have expressed anger and grief. The hit-and-run, coupled with the victim’s anonymity, has sparked calls for change. Local advocacy groups focused on transportation justice, immigrant rights, and traffic safety are already mobilizing, urging the county to take both immediate and long-term action.

Public discourse is shifting from merely reacting to incidents to demanding systemic accountability—better lighting, lower speed limits, stronger DUI prevention measures, and enhanced support for vulnerable residents, including those without strong community ties.

As more details emerge from the investigation, these conversations are likely to intensify. For now, the focus remains on identifying Godofredo Gonzales Zelaya’s family and ensuring he is honored with the human dignity owed to every life.

Law Enforcement’s Appeal: A Plea for Human Connection

The Montgomery County Police Department’s appeal to the public is not only an investigative necessity—it is a plea for compassion. It is rare for authorities to make such direct and emotional appeals unless all traditional methods of locating family have failed. By asking for help from the public, they are humanizing the victim and emphasizing that no one should leave this world without remembrance, without closure, and without someone to mourn them.

Their message is clear: if you knew him, if you knew someone who might have known him, if his name sounds familiar or if you’ve heard mention of a man now missing from a place he used to occupy—reach out.

Conclusion: Honoring a Life Amid Silence

The story of Godofredo Gonzales Zelaya, as it currently stands, is one of tragedy, mystery, and unmet grief. But it is also a powerful reminder of the importance of community, of connection, and of visibility. It underscores the obligation shared by all—to recognize the humanity in one another, especially in moments when it seems absent or neglected.

In the absence of family, it falls to the wider public to witness his passing, to speak his name, and to ensure he is not forgotten. His death demands attention—not just for the sake of justice, but for the larger pursuit of dignity, safety, and belonging.

If you have any information, the Collision Reconstruction Unit can be contacted directly at 240-773-6620. Your call could bring a family closure. Your memory could bring a lost man home.