A 13-year-old boy was allegedly driving a stolen vehicle that was involved in a fatal crash early Tuesday morning in Germantown, Maryland, the Montgomery County Police Department said.
The crash left one man dead and six minors injured, in addition to the teenage driver, who were traveling in the car reported stolen hours before the accident.
One driver died at the scene of the accident
According to the preliminary investigation, the minor was driving a white 2015 model Kia Optima, reported stolen from a home in Germantown a few hours before.
Authorities indicated that the vehicle was traveling northbound on a highway when it entered an intersection and collided with a blue 2007 Toyota Matrix that was traveling east.
After the crash, police and fire crews responded to the scene around 5:25 in the morning, where they found the Kia overturned and with several occupants trapped.
The driver of the Toyota, identified as William Vance Payne II, 58, of Virginia, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Seven minors were traveling in the stolen vehicle
The police reported that seven minors between 12 and 15 years old were traveling in the Kia.
The 13-year-old driver was taken to an area hospital in critical but stable condition.
The other six occupants – four girls and two boys – were also hospitalized with injuries of varying severity.
So far, authorities have not revealed the identity of the minors.
The Montgomery County Police Department said the investigation into the crash continues and warned it could last several months.
Authorities indicated that any decision on possible criminal charges will be made by the Montgomery County Prosecutor's Office once investigators complete the collection and presentation of evidence.
For now, police have not reported whether the 13-year-old will face charges related to the theft of the vehicle or the accident that claimed the life of a 58-year-old man.
