A 13-year-old boy driving a stolen vehicle packed with six other children caused a fatal collision in Montgomery County, Maryland, killing an innocent motorist and sending all seven young occupants to the hospital with injuries ranging from minor to critical.
Fatal Collision in Early Morning Hours
The crash occurred around 5:25 a.m. Tuesday in Germantown when the 13-year-old driver ran through an intersection in a stolen 2015 Kia Optima. The vehicle struck a 2007 Toyota Matrix traveling eastbound, killing the Toyota’s driver, 58-year-old William Vance Payne II of Virginia. Payne was pronounced dead at the scene. Emergency responders discovered the Kia overturned with multiple occupants trapped inside, requiring extensive rescue operations to free the children from the wreckage.
The stolen Kia had been reported missing from a Germantown residence just hours before the deadly collision. Police indicated the vehicle was traveling northbound on a highway when it entered the intersection and collided with Payne’s vehicle. Both cars sustained extensive damage from the impact, which scattered debris across the intersection and required significant cleanup operations.
Seven Children Hospitalized After Crash
The 13-year-old driver suffered critical injuries but remained in stable condition at an area hospital. Six other children riding in the stolen vehicle, four girls and two boys between the ages of 12 and 15, were transported to multiple hospitals with varying degrees of injuries. Authorities have not disclosed the relationships among the children or whether they knew the vehicle was stolen when they got inside.
Investigation Could Take Months
Montgomery County Police Department officials announced Wednesday that the investigation into the collision could require months to complete. Investigators must reconstruct the crash scene, analyze physical evidence, interview witnesses, and determine the exact circumstances that led to the fatal impact. The department noted that any criminal charges related to the collision will be decided by the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office after investigators present their findings. The case raises questions about juvenile accountability and parental supervision when children gain access to vehicles and operate them without licenses or adult oversight.