Double Fatal Motor Vehicle Collision in Hughesville Saturday

Editor

somd.com Editor
Staff member
PREMO Member
Patron
Type of Incident: Double Fatal Motor Vehicle Collision

Date and Time: April 15, 2017 at 10:53 p.m.

Location: Northbound Leonardtown Rd. north of Cracklingtown Rd., Hughesville, Charles County, Md.

Vehicles:

Vehicle 1: 1999 Chevrolet Suburban Virginia

Vehicle 2: 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Maryland

Drivers:

Vehicle 1: Michael Lee Simms (deceased), 49, Linden, Virginia

Vehicle 2: Shelia Victoria Green, 57, Waldorf, Maryland

Passengers:

Vehicle 1: Lashawnia Inez Hagan (deceased), 49, Waldorf, Maryland

Vehicle 1: Lanika Elisia Jackson Coleman, 42, Clinton, Maryland

Vehicle 1: Keith Rondell Tolson, 53, Upper Marlboro, Maryland

Vehicle 1: Ka Von Desales Dorsey, 24, Waldorf, Maryland

Vehicle 1: Name Withheld - 'Juvenile Female,' 13, Clinton, Maryland

Vehicle 2: Ryann Lnnnee McGee, 19, Waldorf, Maryland

Narrative:

(HUGHESVILLE, Maryland) – On Saturday, April 15, 2017 at approximately 10:53 p.m., Troopers from the Maryland State Police La Plata Barrack responded to a personal injury motor vehicle collision on northbound Leonardtown Road north of Cracklingtown Road.

A preliminary investigation conducted by Troopers indicates that a 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee was traveling northbound on Leonardtown Road north of Cracklingtown Road in lane #1 when it was struck in the rear by a 1999 Chevrolet Suburban, which witnesses reported was traveling at a high rate of speed. Following the initial collision, the Suburban traveled off the right side of the roadway and over several embankments. The Suburban continued into a wooded area where it struck several trees as well as a telephone pole which it severed. The Suburban then overturned and caught fire. Four passengers were able to escape the Suburban and were assisted in doing so by witnesses, one of whom suffered minor burns during their effort to assist.

The four passengers who escaped the Suburban were transported to D.C Children's Hospital, MedStar Washington Hospital Center and Prince George's Hospital Center by Maryland State Police Aviation Command helicopters Trooper 2 and Trooper 7 for treatment of their injuries. The operator and passenger in the Grand Cherokee were also injured and transported by ambulance to the University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Center for treatment.

As a result of injuries sustained in the collision and resulting fire, the driver and front seat passenger of the Suburban were pronounced dead at the scene. They were both transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore for autopsy.

Investigators conducted multiple interviews and collected evidence on scene. As a result of their findings, speed, driver error and alcohol are believed to be the causes of this collision.

La Plata Barrack personnel were assisted on scene by the Maryland State Police CRASH Team and Deputies from the Charles County Sheriff's Office. Additionally, personnel from the Hughesville Volunteer Fire Department, the Waldorf Volunteer Fire Department, the Benedict Volunteer Fire Department, the Charles County Rescue Sqaud, the Charles County Department of Emergency Services EMS Division, the Mechanicsville Volunteer Rescue Squad and Dentsville EMS provided assistance as well.

This investigation is being continued by Corporal J. Zimmerman, a Collision Reconstruction Specialist assigned to the Maryland State Police CRASH Team. Anyone who may have witnessed or who has information regarding this collision is asked to contact the La Plata Barrack Duty Officer at (301) 392-1200 and reference case number 17-MSP-015718.
 

officeguy

Well-Known Member
What a mess. Listened to this on the scanner last night. 4 ALS ambulances, 2 MSP helos, 3 BLS ambulances until they had everyone transported. They ran out of room on the helipad at Hospital Center and had to ship one adult to PG istead.
 

Editor

somd.com Editor
Staff member
PREMO Member
Patron
a 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee was traveling northbound on Leonardtown Road north of Cracklingtown Road in lane #1 when it was struck in the rear by a 1999 Chevrolet Suburban, which witnesses reported was traveling at a high rate of speed.

It would be nice to have the back story on what precipitated this. Why was she driving so fast?

-- Mechanical/electrical issues with the vehicle

-- Was in a hurry to get somewhere

-- Under the influence

-- Typical way she drove

-- Falling asleep

-- was Angry about something
 
It would be nice to have the back story on what precipitated this. Why was she driving so fast?

-- Mechanical/electrical issues with the vehicle

-- Was in a hurry to get somewhere

-- Under the influence

-- Typical way she drove

-- Falling asleep

-- was Angry about something

As per the narrative.
 

officeguy

Well-Known Member
As per the narrative.

Well, that's what they are suspecting anyway. As the driver was burned up, they'll have to wait for the autopsy to come back before they can really say that. From the narrative it was the Suburban driven by Mr Simms that initiated the wreck by rear-ending the Cherokee. Sucks for the passengers who got hurt and killed but sometimes reckless driving is a self solving problem.
 

GURPS

INGSOC
PREMO Member
well that sucks ...

I hope for the driver and front passenger they were already dead, burning alive is a ####ty way to go
 

officeguy

Well-Known Member
well that sucks ...

I hope for the driver and front passenger they were already dead, burning alive is a ####ty way to go

Channel8 had a piece on the accident and interviewed the neighbor and his wife who pulled people out of the Suburban. Apparently the driver was conscious but pinned and said 'I know i'm not gonna make it'.
 

littlelady

God bless the USA
Very horrific. And another indication that we need more traffic enforcement.

I don't think traffic enforcement could have prevented this accident. It is like saying law enforcement is responsible for accidents. They do the best they can, and I applaud them. They want to make a difference in the community, but can't keep up; and they, certainly, don't get paid enough for putting their life on the line. Why would law enforcement be blamed for citizen stupidity? Just wondering. JMO.
 
Last edited:

officeguy

Well-Known Member
I feel bad for the 13 year old kid who got hurt, the bystanders who had to watch/hear this and the firefighters who had to confirm the 'two priority 4s' after the flames were out.
 

littlelady

God bless the USA
I feel bad for the 13 year old kid who got hurt, the bystanders who had to watch/hear this and the firefighters who had to confirm the 'two priority 4s' after the flames were out.

We all feel bad. Who wants to hear of these accidents, much less be involved. I thank my blessings every day, even though I have obstacles, but I don't take them on the road. But, good grief, how do you avoid someone rear ending you? You can't. Prayers to the families involved.
 

glhs837

Power with Control
I don't think traffic enforcement could have prevented this accident. It is like saying law enforcement is responsible for accidents. They do the best they can, and I applaud them. They want to make a difference in the community, but can't keep up; and they, certainly, don't get paid enough for putting their life on the line. Why would law enforcement be blamed for citizen stupidity? Just wondering. JMO.

Not blamed, this is not their fault. The point is that if we took some of the hours that are spent running speed enforcement on Saturday and Sunday mornings on Rt 235, and instead dedicated those hours to enforcing things that contribute more to crashes, then deterrence might have an effect. Officers perform the enforcement they are told to perform. And since one of the metrics is numbers of citations given, those activities that generate citations get precedence. Another factor is that speed enforcement gets the officers heads into a lot of cars. And the more cars they stick their heads into, the more chances of catching a real bad guy.
 

officeguy

Well-Known Member
Another factor is that speed enforcement gets the officers heads into a lot of cars. And the more cars they stick their heads into, the more chances of catching a real bad guy.

For the most part they 'detect the odor of burnt marijuana' and pinch one more doofus for carrying more than 10gram of the stuff.
 

DEEKAYPEE8569

Well-Known Member
Yes you can, you have to aware of all your surroundings, not just those in front of you.
But.....but.....being aware of your surroundings doesn't prevent some a**hole who isn't paying attention; who is probably texting-while-driving; from ramming you in the a**end while you're stopped in traffic at a red light; or stopped in traffic behind someone turning onto a side road.

Vehicle traffic varies in speed; even stops. Awareness of one's surroundings becomes the responsibility of the oncoming drivers behind you when you are stopped on the road; be it at a stop sign/light, or waiting for vehicles in front of you to turn.

The advent of texting; and not eliminating that capability while driving when the technology was introduced, is what causes rear-end accidents these days; more often than not. "Oh, I have a text, I better read it now." Texts received while you're driving can wait folks!

The kid that hit Dad and me in front of Walden/Sierra a few years ago; while we were stopped, waiting for a vehicle in front of us to turn, never even slowed down. Disappointingly, whether or not he was TWD was never established. Sorry.....got carried away.
 
Last edited:

glhs837

Power with Control
But.....but.....being aware of your surroundings doesn't prevent some a**hole who isn't paying attention; who is probably texting-while-driving; from ramming you in the a**end while you're stopped in traffic at a red light; or stopped in traffic behind someone turning onto a side road.

Vehicle traffic varies in speed; even stops. Awareness of one's surroundings becomes the responsibility of the oncoming drivers behind you when you are stopped on the road; be it at a stop sign/light, or waiting for vehicles in front of you to turn.

The advent of texting; and not eliminating that capability while driving when the technology was introduced, is what causes rear-end accidents these days; more often than not. "Oh, I have a text, I better read it now." Texts received while you're driving can wait folks!
Sorry.....got carried away.

No, you have a point. Unless you are even more crazy paranoid than I am, sometimes you are in a stopped position with nowhere to go. But that does not appear to be the case here.

a 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee was traveling northbound on Leonardtown Road north of Cracklingtown Road in lane #1

And yes, its the others drivers job to not crash into your rear. If they do, you are in the right....... but I would rather not be the right one in a crash. I would rather NOT be in the crash at all. Maybe it's the rider in me, where all the ROW in the world cant bring you back to life, it only makes my wifes payout check larger.....
 
If there is someone behind me that is giving me concern, following too close, distracted, etc... I let them pass. I'd much rather have them in front of me where I can evade them more easily.
 
Top