CALLAWAY, Md. (June 16, 2014)—This weekend saw the unfortunate passing of two children in the southern Maryland area. A one-year-old toddler was struck by a car and an eleven year-old girl drowned in the Wicomico River.
Toddler Struck by Car Backing Up
On June 15 at 4 p.m., officers from the Charles Co. Sheriff's Office
responded to the 10000 block of Lyles Place in Waldorf for the report of a motor
vehicle collision involving a pedestrian. Investigation revealed the victim,
Nathanial J. Penn, 1, was struck by a motor vehicle that was backing up. The
family of the child immediately took him to Fire/EMS Station 12 at Westlake
where paramedics began rescue efforts. The child was transported to the
University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Center where staff continued
resuscitative efforts. The child later died as a result of the injuries he
sustained after being struck. At this time, it does not appear that drugs,
alcohol or speed were contributing factors. Cpl. J. Hopkins of the CCSO Traffic
Operations Unit is investigating.
Eleven Year-old Drowns in River
The eleven year-old girl was reported missing on Friday afternoon around 2:05 p.m. She was last seen in the water of the Wicomico River. The search was suspended Friday night around 7:30 p.m. due to darkness and resumed on Saturday at 7:30 a.m. The child's body was discovered by boaters on the Charles County side of the Wicomico River at 17400 block of Rock Point Road in Newburg on Sunday around 2:00 p.m.
The girl was identified as Faith Janee Lee of Chaptico. The family was notified prior to releasing the name to the public.
The body was transported to the Medical Examiner in Baltimore for an autopsy.
The Charles County Sheriff Office says that the preliminary cause of death is accidental drowning. However, the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigations Division responded to the scene and assumed the investigation. They also say that foul play is not suspected at this time.
The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) police led the search. They were assisted by the Charles County and St. Mary's County Sheriff's Offices, the Maryland State Police, and local fire department and rescue squad personnel.