1 dead, 4 hurt after two-vehicle crash in Seat Pleasant

SEAT PLEASANT, Md. (DC News Now) — Several people were hurt and one person died in a two-vehicle crash involving a stolen car in Seat Pleasant on Tuesday.

The Prince George’s County Fire and EMS Department (PGFD) said at 3:41 p.m., the crash happened on Sheriff Road and MLK Jr Highway.

Officials said a 30-year-old mother was found dead at the scene, while a child passenger was also injured and taken to the hospital in critical condition. Authorities with the Seat Pleasant Police Department (SPPD) noted that the child sustained non-life-threatening injuries.

PGFD said two other people were being evaluated at the hospital.

Shortly before the collision, SPPD officers noticed a stolen vehicle in the area of Seat Pleasant Drive and Joplin Street. An officer followed at a distance to avoid alerting the driver, while waiting for the Prince George’s County Police Department helicopter unit to assist.

A commander then directed the officer to stop following the vehicle, and as he returned toward the city, he came across a two-car collision involving the stolen car.

“It is important to note that at no time did our officer attempt to stop the suspect vehicle. The officer never activated their lights or sirens and was making every attempt to ensure that the suspect was not alerted of their presence,” SPPD stated in a news release.

In addition to the woman who passed away and the hurt child, four teenage boys in the suspect vehicle were also hurt.

Three of them were taken to a nearby hospital, while all four were taken into custody. They were between the ages of 15 and 17.

“We will seek to hold the persons responsible for this crime,” Prince George’s County’s interim state’s attorney, Tara Jackson, also said during the news conference. “It is our young people – these juveniles – that were driving this car. It’s unfortunate. But we have got to hold our young people responsible. If we don’t, we will continue to see these tragedies.”

Acting Chief Cedric Heyward urged parents in the community to hold their children accountable.