LEONARDTOWN, Md. - According to the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office, a two car head-on collision on Wednesday afternoon left one 16 year-old passenger dead and another 16 year-old with life-threatening injuries. Both drivers were also sent to hospitals with incapacitating injuries.
On Wednesday April, 4 at 4:01 p.m., Sean T. Gibson, age 17 of Mechanicsville, Maryland was driving a 1998 Dodge Neon West bound on Sunnyside Road in Clements, Maryland near the intersection of Colton's Point Road. Gibson failed to negotiate a curve and lost control of the vehicle. The vehicle crossed over the center lines and struck an east-bound 2000 Pontiac Grand Am head-on. The Pontiac was driven by Amber R. Russell, age 20 years of Clements, Maryland.
The front seat passenger in Gibson's vehicle,
Ethan W. Chewning, age 16 of Chaptico, Maryland died on scene. The rear seat passenger in Gibson's vehicle, Nathaniel T. Fitch age 16 of Clements, Maryland received life threatening injuries and was flown to Prince George's Trauma Center by Trooper-7. Both drivers, Gibson and Russell, received incapacitating injuries and were treated at Suburban Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland.
Driver error and speed appear to be contributing factors on the part of Sean Gibson. No contributing factors were uncovered on the part of Amber Russell.
The investigation will be continued by the St. Mary's Sheriff's Office Collision Investigation Team.
Obituary for Ethan Andrew Chewning