La Plata, MD — A fatal two-vehicle crash in Charles County resulted in the deaths of two elderly women and left another person injured on Wednesday afternoon. Maryland State Police are currently investigating the incident, which caused significant disruptions along Route 301.
At approximately 1:45 p.m., troopers from the La Plata Barrack were dispatched to the scene at the intersection of Route 301 and Popes Creek Road in Faulkner, where two cars had collided. According to initial reports, Norma Matthews, 81, of Lowell, Massachusetts, was attempting to cross the southbound lanes of Route 301 in a 2004 Toyota Camry with Virginia Licata, 86, of Blackwood, New Jersey, as her passenger.
As Matthews navigated Popes Creek Road, a 2017 Chevy Sonic, driven southbound on Route 301 by Caitlynn Connell, 28, of King George, Virginia, struck the Toyota on the driver’s side. Matthews was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency responders. Licata sustained critical injuries and was airlifted by the Maryland State Police Aviation Command to Capital Region Medical Center, where she later succumbed to her injuries.
Connell also suffered injuries in the crash and was flown to the same medical center for treatment. Her current condition has not been disclosed.
The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration assisted at the scene, managing road closures that lasted several hours to facilitate an on-site investigation by the Maryland State Police Crash Team. This team is spearheading the inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Authorities are urging anyone with information related to the incident to come forward and contact Sergeant Zimmerman at the La Plata Barrack at 301-392-1231.
The investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing, and further details will be released as they become available.
