Five Dead in Wrecks Last Week, More Die This Week
on Southern Maryland's Daily Diet of Deadly Highways


By Ahmar Khan
ST. MARY’S TODAY

LA PLATA — As many as five people, three in one road accident, lost their lives in three different road accidents in a span of couple of days. The victims included a 90-year-old woman from Leonardtown.
The Maryland State Police are investigating a collision that killed three Charles County residents on May 1. “At this point, I can say alcohol was not a contributing factor,” TFC S. Murphy of the La Plata Barracks told ST. MARY’S TODAY.
According to state police, a 1985 Nissan 300 ZX, being operated by Michael Justin Hurley, 26 years, of Waldorf, was traveling eastbound on MD Rt. 225, west of Bibury Lane.
For unknown reasons, Hurley’s vehicle crossed over the centerline and sideswiped a 1995 Ford truck being operated by Jeremy Karl Stewart, 57 years, of La Plata.
Hurley’s vehicle continued east and struck a 1988 Chevrolet Corsica, being operated by Monico Bernice Thompson, 43, of Bel Alton, head-on. Thompson was pronounced dead on the scene.
Hurley was transported to Civista Medical Center by ambulance where he died. A passenger in the Thompson vehicle, Johnnay Fenwick, 5 years, of Indian Head, was flown to Children’s Hospital by Park Police helicopter, Eagle 1, where she died.
Stewart, who was in the Ford truck, was not injured. Other than Murphy, TFC J. Zimmerman of the Crash Team are conducting this investigation.
On Tuesday, May 2, 2006 at 11:22 am, TFC P. Trossbach responded to a
personal injury collision on Route 5 at Route 243 in Leonardtown.
Investigation revealed that a Jeep Cherokee, being driven by John
Jackson Raley, 60, of Valley Lee, was traveling southbound on Route 5 when the driver failed to stop for a red light and struck the passenger side of a Honda Accord, being driven by Beverley Ann Yeatman, 69, of California.
The Honda was crossing over Route 5 from Maypole Road to westbound Route 243. The passenger of the Honda, Louise Bosse Yeatman, 90, of Leonardtown, received incapacitating injuries and was flown to Prince George’s Hospital by Maryland State Police Trooper 7.
On Wednesday, May 3, 2006, Ms. Louise Yeatman died as a result of her
injuries.
Raley was charged at the scene of the collision with failure to
stop at a red signal and negligent driving. Alcohol and/or drugs do not appear to be a contributing factor. The State Attorney’s Office is
currently reviewing the case.
Earlier on April 30, a 2001 Ford Windstar being operated by Alan Smith, 54 years, of Brandywine, was traveling southbound on MD Rt. 925, north of Pembrooke Square. The vehicle traveled off the roadway, struck a curb and then a utility pole. It is possible that Smith suffered a heart attack before running off the roadway. He was transported to Civista Medical Center where he died. Tpr. A. Kolle is conducting this investigation.