Victim identified from Sept. 17 fatal motor vehicle collision
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore has identified the victim that was involved in the motor vehicle collision on September 17 on Maryland Route 6 in Charles County. Authorities say the deceased is Danielle Leigh Windsor, age 25, of Upper Marlboro. She was pronounced dead at the scene. A fire made it impossible to identify the woman at the time of the accident.
The two vehicle crash occurred at approximately 8:14 p.m., on Maryland Route 6 in the area of Valley Road in La Plata.
A preliminary investigation conducted by troopers from the La Plata Barrack, with the assistance of the Maryland State Police Crash Team, indicates a Ford Fusion passenger vehicle operated by Ms. Windsor was traveling on westbound Maryland Route 6 passing vehicles in a no passing zone in the area of Valley Road. At the same time, a Dodge Caliber, operated by Ryan Allen Martucci, was traveling on eastbound Maryland Route 6 in the area of Valley Road. Both operators took evasive maneuvers to avoid the collision. Both operators tracked each other and collided head-on in the by-pass lane on eastbound Maryland Route 6 and Valley Road.
As a result of the collision, both drivers were trapped in their vehicles which subsequently caught fire. The operator of the Dodge was extricated from the vehicle by a Maryland State Police K-9 officer arriving on the scene. The driver of the Ford was extensively pinned in the vehicle and the fire prevented extrication.
Mr. Martucci was transported to Prince George's Hospital by Maryland State Police Aviation - Trooper 2.
Anyone who may have witnessed this crash is asked to contact the Maryland State Police La Plata Barrack at (301) 392-1231. The investigation is continuing and being investigated by Corporal J. Zimmerman, MSP Crash Team. (15-MSP-033817)
Charges issued in connection with fatal motor vehicle collision
On September 11, the case involving Darren Loyce Windsor, age 23, of Indian Head, and the late Autumn Marie Jenkins, age 20, of Nanjemoy, was presented to the grand jury for Charles County by Corporal Justin Zimmerman of the MSP Crash Team to determine charges.
On September 14, the grand jury and circuit court for Charles County issued an arrest warrant for Mr. Windsor for the following charges:
1. Negligent Manslaughter by Auto for death of Autumn Jenkins;
2. Negligent Homicide by Auto for death of Autumn Jenkins; and
3. Driving while under the influence of alcohol per se.
On September 14, at approximately 1:03 p.m., Windsor was taken into custody without incident by Corporal Justin Zimmerman. Windsor was taken to the Charles County Detention Center for booking and to await a bond hearing.
The crash occurred on April 28, 2015 at approximately 9:06 p.m. on MD Route 425 south of Tim's Lane in Nanjemoy. As a result of the collision, Ms. Jenkins was killed after the car she was driving was struck head-on by a vehicle driven by Windsor. She was pronounced dead on the collision scene. Her body
was taken to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for an autopsy.
Jenkins was a 5 year fire fighter/EMT member of the Nanjemoy Volunteer Fire Department.
A preliminary investigation conducted by troopers from the La Plata Barrack, with the assistance of the Maryland State Police Crash Team, indicates a 2011 Chevrolet Silverado operated by Windsor was traveling northbound on MD Route 425 south of Tim's Place. At the same time, a 2011 Kia Soul operated by Jenkins was traveling southbound on MD Route 425 south of Tim's Place. The Chevrolet Silverado failed to drive in a single lane and failed to drive right of center. The Chevrolet Silverado collided off-set head-on with the Kia Soul. The Kia Soul came to a rest off the roadway in a field and the Chevrolet Silverado came to rest in the roadway.
Investigators determined that alcohol was a factor in the collision.
Due to the severity of the crash, troopers closed northbound MD Route 425 for approximately 4 hours for the collision reconstruction. The Maryland State Police Aviation Section, Trooper 2, responded to the scene for a medevac and transported the operator of the Chevrolet Silverado to Prince George's Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Anyone who may have witnessed this crash is asked to contact Corporal J. Zimmerman of the Maryland State Police Crash Team at (301) 392-1231. The investigation is continuing.