HUNTINGTOWN (Oct. 23, 2007) According to Maryland State Police Prince Frederick Barracks Commander Lt. Homer Rich on Sunday, October 21, 2007, at approximately 3:50 AM, a single vehicle crash occurred on northbound MD Rt. 2-4 just north of Armiger Road, Huntingtown, MD. Investigation and witnesses confirmed that a yellow 2003 Mazda sedan had been traveling at an excessive rate of speed when it left the roadway, traveled onto the right roadside, struck a guardrail, and overturned coming to a final rest in a wood thicket. Witnesses and emergency personnel arrived within a minute of the crash but determined that the vehicle was unoccupied and that the driver had left the scene. Investigation immediately confirmed that the 16 year old St. Leonard resident/driver was traveling alone when the crash occurred. Both airbags deployed, the interior of the vehicle was intact and no blood or evidence of trauma was observed at the crash scene. Rescue, police and EMS personnel conducted an extensive and ever expanding search of the crash scene fearing that the 16 year old driver had been injured, fled the scene and subsequently could not be located. MSP Aviation Division (Trooper 2) conducted an aerial search while DFC J. Windsor with his bloodhound K9 partner attempted to locate the driver on the ground. These efforts proved unsuccessful. Members of the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office Crash Reconstruction Unit also responded.

At approximately 6:25 AM, as plans were being made for an extensive daylight search, a report was received that the 16 year old driver was uninjured and at a residence off of Northwest Drive, Huntingtown, MD. This residence was where the young driver intended to go just prior to the crash and is 2.5 miles away from the crash site. The 16 year old driver had no apparent injuries and was immediately returned to his father’s care and custody.

Numerous resources from the Huntingtown Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad, the Maryland State Police (Barrack “U” and Aviation Division), the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office and the Calvert County Control Center were exhausted to investigate this crash and/or attempt to locate the driver. TFC J. R. Ewig subsequently charged the young driver with Juvenile Delinquency; specific charges were placed related to the actual crash and leaving the scene of the crash.