(La Plata, Maryland) – On Wednesday, September 04, 2019, shortly before noon, troopers
from the Maryland State Police La Plata Barrack responded for a report of a motor vehicle collision
involving two vehicles on Maryland Route 6 (Port Tobacco Rd) in the area of King Edward Place in
La Plata, Maryland. Due to the seriousness of the collision, the Maryland State Police La Plata
Barrack requested the Maryland State Police Crash Team to assume the investigation.
A preliminary investigation conducted by troopers from the MSP Crash Team and the La Plata
Barrack indicates a 1996 Chevrolet Blazer was being operated by Jessica Dutrow, 29, of Port
Tobacco, Md and occupied by Shania Zimmerman, 19, of Nanjemoy, Md., a 36-year-old male from
Port Tobacco whose identity is being withheld pending family notification, and a seven-month-old infant. The
Chevrolet Blazer was traveling eastbound on Maryland Route 6 in the area of King Edward Place. The
operator of the Chevrolet Blazer passed an unidentified vehicle while traveling on the right shoulder.
The Chevrolet Blazer re-entered the eastbound lane and the operator began to lose control of the
vehicle. At the same time, a 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche operated by Melvin Spriggs, 64, of
Capital Heights, Md., was traveling on westbound Maryland Route 6 in the area of King Edward Place. The
operator of the Chevrolet Blazer lost control and the vehicle entered the westbound lane of Maryland Route 6 where it was struck by the Chevrolet Avalanche.
After the collision, the Chevrolet Blazer overturned at least one full rotation and the left rear passenger was ejected from the vehicle. He was pronounced deceased at MedStar/Washington Hospital Center in Washington, DC. The preliminary investigation indicates speed and driver error are believed to be factors in the collision.
Spriggs was transported by MSP Trooper 7 to MedStar Prince George’s Hospital. The 7-month-old was also transported by MSP Trooper 7 to Children’s National Medical Center. Dutrow and Zimmerman were both flown by MSP Trooper 6 to Prince George’s Hospital.
Anyone who may have witnessed this crash is asked to contact Cpl. Zimmerman of the Maryland State Police Crash Team at (301) 392-1231.
The investigation is continuing.
from the Maryland State Police La Plata Barrack responded for a report of a motor vehicle collision
involving two vehicles on Maryland Route 6 (Port Tobacco Rd) in the area of King Edward Place in
La Plata, Maryland. Due to the seriousness of the collision, the Maryland State Police La Plata
Barrack requested the Maryland State Police Crash Team to assume the investigation.
A preliminary investigation conducted by troopers from the MSP Crash Team and the La Plata
Barrack indicates a 1996 Chevrolet Blazer was being operated by Jessica Dutrow, 29, of Port
Tobacco, Md and occupied by Shania Zimmerman, 19, of Nanjemoy, Md., a 36-year-old male from
Port Tobacco whose identity is being withheld pending family notification, and a seven-month-old infant. The
Chevrolet Blazer was traveling eastbound on Maryland Route 6 in the area of King Edward Place. The
operator of the Chevrolet Blazer passed an unidentified vehicle while traveling on the right shoulder.
The Chevrolet Blazer re-entered the eastbound lane and the operator began to lose control of the
vehicle. At the same time, a 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche operated by Melvin Spriggs, 64, of
Capital Heights, Md., was traveling on westbound Maryland Route 6 in the area of King Edward Place. The
operator of the Chevrolet Blazer lost control and the vehicle entered the westbound lane of Maryland Route 6 where it was struck by the Chevrolet Avalanche.
After the collision, the Chevrolet Blazer overturned at least one full rotation and the left rear passenger was ejected from the vehicle. He was pronounced deceased at MedStar/Washington Hospital Center in Washington, DC. The preliminary investigation indicates speed and driver error are believed to be factors in the collision.
Spriggs was transported by MSP Trooper 7 to MedStar Prince George’s Hospital. The 7-month-old was also transported by MSP Trooper 7 to Children’s National Medical Center. Dutrow and Zimmerman were both flown by MSP Trooper 6 to Prince George’s Hospital.
Anyone who may have witnessed this crash is asked to contact Cpl. Zimmerman of the Maryland State Police Crash Team at (301) 392-1231.
The investigation is continuing.