Seven Juveniles Injured and One Adult Killed in Montgomery County Crash Involving Stolen Vehicle
A collision between a stolen Kia Optima and a Toyota Matrix near Germantown left one man dead and seven children aged 12 to 15 injured.
A two-vehicle crash just before 5:30 a.m. on Tuesday at the intersection of Clopper Road and Great Seneca Highway in Germantown, Maryland, resulted in one fatality and seven injuries, officials said. Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service spokesman Pete Piringer said responders found eight occupants hurt: a man in a blue Toyota Matrix and a group of children in a Kia Optima that had been reported stolen from a local residence.
Montgomery County police spokeswoman Shiera Goff noted that none of the youths were old enough to hold a driver’s license. The juvenile behind the wheel was taken to a hospital in critical but stable condition, while the other passengers received medical treatment for their injuries. The man in the Matrix was pronounced dead at the scene after the vehicles collided, with one car flipping and catching fire.
Police said the Kia entered the intersection and struck the Matrix, which was traveling on Clopper Road. A witness reported to police that the Kia was driving erratically before the collision. The investigation continues.