Originally Run on November 30
The driver in yesterday’s fatal crash in New Market has been identified as Nicole Yelena Pitonyak, 17 of Brandywine. Pitonyak was pronounced dead on the scene.
Her passenger was a 16-year-old female from Waldorf, who was flown by Maryland State Police helicopter Trooper 7 to Prince George’s County Shock Trauma. She is currently listed in critical condition.
Preliminary witness information on the scene reported the Ford Focus may had been traveling side by side with a small silver vehicle, at a high rate of speed, just prior to the crash occurring; however, follow up investigation has revealed no indication of “drag racing”.
State Route 5 has reopened after five hours of accident reconstruction. Still no word on the identities of the crash victims. More information to follow as it becomes available.
An update on the story has just come in from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office: The Ford Focus was driven by a teenage female from Brandywine and the female passenger, also a teen, was from Waldorf. The car was traveling at a high rate of speed in the southbound direction, just north of the intersection of State Route 5 and State Route 6.
The driver of the car was pronounced dead on the scene. The passenger was transported by Trooper 7 to PG Shock Trauma.
There are witness accounts that the Focus was side-by-side with a smaller silver car, before the driver of the Focus lost control, entered the center median and struck a tree. The official report at this time is that speed is a factor in the fatal accident.
Anyone witnessing this accident is asked to contact Dfc, Timothy Reese at St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office at (301) 475-4200 ext. 9115..
This just confirmed: Two females were in a blue Ford Focus stopped at the southbound light at the intersection of State Route 5 and Golden Beach Road in New Market. They were involved in a contest of speed with another vehicle as the light turned green. The Focus lost control, entered the median and hit a tree, scattering parts of the car across the roadway. The other car participating in the speed contest was not involved in the wreck.
At approximately 3:15 p.m., a single car traveling on Three Notch Road in New Market left the roadway and slammed into a tree. Police report a single fatal injury with Trooper 7 responding. Trooper 7 took a priority one patient to Prince George’s Shock Trauma.
Maryland State Police and St. Mary’s County Sheriffs Duputies are on the scene. More details to follow as they are released.
The road is expected to be shut down for a few hours for reconstruction.