Boy, 13, Accused of Driving Stolen Car in Deadly Maryland Crash, Victim ID’d
The Virginia man who was killed when seven minors traveling in a stolen car crashed into his vehicle has been identified.William Vance Payne, II, was driving a 2007 Toyota Matrix when he sustained fatal injuries in the accident at approximately 5:25 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 4, the Montgomery County Department of Police said in a press release on Wednesday, Aug. 5.He was 58 years old.
Serious motor vehicle collision at Clopper Road and Great Seneca Highway.Montgomery County Maryland Fire & Rescue Service Facebook
Payne was pronounced dead at the scene, which was at the intersection of Clopper Road and Great Seneca Highway in Germantown.
“He was kind and generous to a fault,” his wife, Lisa Payne, said in a brief statement, NBC Washington reported. She said those who knew him called him Vance.
Images taken at the scene showed at least one overturned vehicle.
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Authorities discovered during a preliminary investigation that the other vehicle involved, a white 2015 Kia Optima, was occupied by seven juveniles ranging in age from 12 to 15 years old, including four girls, ages 14, 14, 13 and 12, and three boys, ages 15, 13 and 12.
A 13-year-old male is believed to have been the driver of the Kia Optima, which was reported stolen out of Germantown several hours after the collision.
“No one is of age to be driving a vehicle,” Montgomery County Police spokeswoman Shiera Goff told WJLA.
Witnesses and residents also spoke to the news station about the fatal crash.
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“It’s a very sad, disappointing thing for me,” Jeya Moses, whose bedroom window overlooks the intersection, told WJLA. “I can’t blame the parents because I’m a mother of two young adults. A lot of times they do what they wanna do.”
“But I think parents [have] to be involved to make sure that the children understand the consequences of it,” she continued.
The 13-year-old male driver was taken to a local hospital in critical but stable condition. The other juveniles who were inside the Kia were transported to several area trauma centers, police said.
“It’s heartbreaking,” Moses continued. “I have young nieces and nephews who are starting to drive the right way.”
Serious motor vehicle collision at Clopper Road and Great Seneca Highway.Montgomery County Maryland Fire & Rescue Service Facebook
Gordon Ellison, who also lives nearby, said his grandson woke up when he heard the loud collision. When his grandson looked out of the window, he saw the fiery scene.
Montgomery County Fire Rescue personnel were dispatched and assisted police.
Payne was reportedly on his way to work at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) the morning of the crash, and had only been approximately 10 minutes away when he was killed, per NBC Washington.
He’d worked at the agency for 29 years.
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“His research focused on making residential heat pump and air conditioning systems more reliable, safe and efficient for the homeowners and residents who rely on them. Our thoughts are with Vance’s family, friends and colleagues during this difficult time,” NIST said in a statement.
Any charges related to the crash will come at the discretion of the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office once evidence is presented to them.
The investigation, which could take months to complete, is being handled by the Montgomery County Department of Police Collision Reconstruction Unit.
