St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a fatal two-vehicle collision at the intersection of Three Notch Road and Hollywood Road in Hollywood on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at 4:35 p.m., resulting in the deaths of two people and injuries to two others.
The crash involved a 2016 GMC Sierra pickup driven by Austin Schultz of Leonardtown, turning left from northbound Three Notch Road onto Hollywood Road at the traffic signal, and a 2013 Toyota Camry driven by 42-year-old Keith Mersing II of Charlotte Hall, traveling south on Three Notch Road. Investigators determined that the Camry ran the red light while using the shoulder to bypass stopped vehicles, striking the GMC pickup.
Mersing and his front-seat passenger, 35-year-old Troy Coley of New Carrollton, were transported to a local hospital, where both died from their injuries. The GMC driver, Schultz, and a juvenile passenger sustained minor injuries and were also taken to a hospital for treatment.
Preliminary findings point to excessive speed and reckless driving as contributing factors. The Sheriff’s Office Collision Reconstruction Unit leads the ongoing investigation.
Sheriff Steve Hall addressed the incident: “Reckless and careless driving costs too many lives, and this crash also very nearly cost the lives of one of our deputies and a member of his family. When you get behind the wheel, you are entering into a social contract; you take on a responsibility to everyone else on the road. This crash is a sobering reminder that the choices drivers make in a matter of seconds can have life-altering consequences for many; our prayers are with the families of those who died.”
Authorities urge witnesses or those with information about the events leading up to the collision to contact Sergeant Shawn Shelko at 301-475-4200, ext. 8147, or via email at shawn.shelko@stmaryscountymd.gov.
Anonymous tips can be submitted by texting 847411 (start with “SMCSO” followed by a space and the tip), through the Sheriff’s Office website at www.FirstSheriff.com/tips, via the SMCSO app available on Google Play or Apple App Store, or by calling the Crime Solvers line at 301-475-3333. Crime Solvers tips remain anonymous, and tipsters may qualify for a cash reward if the information leads to an arrest.
This incident underscores persistent traffic safety concerns along Three Notch Road, a major corridor in St. Mary’s County prone to serious collisions due to high speeds and intersection challenges. The Sheriff’s Office continues emphasizing responsible driving to prevent such tragedies in Southern Maryland communities like Hollywood, Leonardtown, and Charlotte Hall.
