On May 30 at 2:11 p.m., Charles County Sheriff’s officers responded to La Plata Road, east of Grant Chapman Lane in La Plata for a report of a motor vehicle crash involving a Charles County Animal Control van. Investigation revealed a Hyundai passenger car driven by Mark Eugene Payton, 39, of Severn was traveling east in the westbound lane while attempting to pass several vehicles. He struck the westbound Animal Control van head-on.
The driver of the Animal Control van, Alison Lee Burke, 36, of Welcome, and Payton sustained incapacitating but non-life-threatening injuries and were flown to Prince George’s Hospital Center. Both appear to have been wearing their seatbelts.
La Plata Road was closed for about a half-hour for the investigation.
Payton’s driver’s license is suspended. Payton was charged with unsafe passing, reckless driving and driving with a suspended license.
Officer S. Stanley of the Traffic Operations Unit is investigating.