Car crosses center line and collides with Tractor/Trailer. Second teen passenger and her two month old infant survive.
On 24-AUG-2005, members of the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Patrol Division and the Maryland State Police responded to the area of Route 234 and Pincushion Road in Clements, MD. for a reported serious Motor Vehicle Collision. Shortly after arriving on the scene patrol Officers requested Collision Reconstructionist respond to the scene. A short time later Reconstructionists from the Sheriff's Office arrived and took over the investigation.
Preliminary investigation revealed that a 1996 Saturn operated by 19 year old Cynthia Lynn Franics of Hollywood, Maryland had been travleing east on Route 234 when the vehicle failed to negotiate a slight curve in the roadway, crossed the yellow center line striking a 2000 Freightliner Tractor/Trailer driven by 24 year old Kimberly Anne Smart Rodriguez of Beaverdam, VA. Mrs. Francis was pronounced dead on the scene.
Nicole Lynn Barrows, a 19 year old female of Callaway, MD. and her two month old infant were passengers in Mrs. Francis's vehicle. Mrs Barrows was flown to Washington Hospital Center where she remains hospitalized as a result of injuries sustained in the collision. Mrs. Barrows infant child was flown to Childrens Hospital where she was treated and released to a family member. Mrs. Rodriguez sustained no injuries as a result of the collision. At this time speed and alcohol are not considered contributing factors. However, fatigue is being considered as a possible contributing factor for the collision. The St. Mary's County Fatal Collision Reconstruction Team is continuing the investigation.