Update – Nov. 7: Fourth Teen Dies from Dentsville Crash
A fourth teenager involved in the Dentsville crash in which three other teenagers were killed has also succumbed to his injuries. Donte Segar, 14, of Hughesville, died at Prince George’s General Hospital at approximately 12:30 a.m. Nov. 7.
The crash occurred on Oliver Shop Road near Crescent Run Street in Dentsville at about 4:30 p.m. Nov. 6. La Plata residents Jonathan Chapman, 16, Tavonne Alston, 16, and Dionnte Swinson, 15, died at the scene. They were northbound on Oliver Shop Road in a Mercury Grand Marquis also occupied by Segar and Markus Allen, 17, of La Plata. Chapman, who was driving the Mercury, lost control of the vehicle, which first left the right side of the road and then skidded sideways across the center line into the path of a southbound Chevrolet Trailblazer driven by Pamela Stine, 38, of King George, Va. The SUV struck the passenger side of the Mercury head-on.
Maryland State Police helicopters flew Segar and Allen to the Shock Trauma Unit at Prince George’s Hospital Center and Stine to Suburban Hospital. Allen’s and Stine’s injuries are not considered life-threatening.
None of the teenagers was wearing a seatbelt. The investigation into the crash is ongoing but the Mercury’s excessive speed is considered a factor. The occupants of the Mercury were all students at La Plata High School. Charles County Public Schools were previously closed for students on Nov. 7 but the Sheriff’s Office is working with officials at La Plata High School to prepare for their return tomorrow. The deputy assigned to the school as part of the Juvenile Resource Officer program, counselors and administrators will be available to students.
Officer S. Stanley of the Traffic Operations Unit is investigating the crash.
Three Teens Die in Crash: One Critical
On Nov. 6 at 4:30 p.m., Charles County Sheriff’s officers responded to Oliver Shop Road near Crescent Run Street in Dentsville for the report of a motor vehicle crash.
Investigation has revealed a Mercury passenger car occupied by five teenagers was traveling north on Oliver Shop Road when the driver, Jonathan Chapman, 16, of La Plata, lost control of the vehicle. The Mercury crossed the centerline and skidded sideways into the path of a southbound Chevrolet Trailbazer, which struck the passenger side of the Mercury.
Chapman, Tavonne Alston, 16, of La Plata and Dionnte Swinson, 15, of La Plata, who were all in the Mercury, died at the scene. The two other teens in the Mercury and the adult female driver of the SUV were seriously injured.
The injured teens, Markus Allen, 17, of La Plata and Donte Segar, 14, of Hughesville, were flown by a Maryland State Police helicopter to the Shock Trauma Unit at Prince George’s Hospital Center. The younger teen is in critical condition and the elder has injuries that are not considered life-threatening.
The woman in the SUV, Pamela Stine, 38, of King George, Va., was flown to