Âé¶¹¹ÙÍø

13-year-old boy was driving stolen car in Germantown crash that killed Virginia man

A 13-year-old boy was driving the stolen vehicle that struck another vehicle in Germantown, Maryland, early Tuesday morning, killing a man and injuring the teen driver and six passengers in the vehicle he was driving, who are all 12-15 years old, according to police.

Montgomery County police on Wednesday who was killed as William Vance Payne II, 58, of Virginia. He was driving a 2007 Toyota Matrix along Clopper Road when a stolen 2015 Kia Optima, driven by the 13-year-old boy on Great Seneca Highway, entered the intersection of the two roads and struck the Toyota, police said.

The crash happened at around 5:25 a.m. Tuesday. Officers arrived to find both vehicles severely damaged. Payne was pronounced dead at the scene.

The teen driver was taken to the hospital in a condition police described as critical but stable. The six passengers in the Kia were all also taken to hospitals. Inside the Kia were four girls, ages 14, 14, 13 and 12, and two boys, ages 15 and 12, along with the driver.

Germantown vehicle crash
One of the two vehicles significantly damaged after a crash in Germantown, Maryland, on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026. (Courtesy Pete Piringer/Montgomery County Fire and Rescue)
Germantown vehicle crash
At least one person is dead and at least six others are injured after a two-vehicle crash near Kingsview Park in Germantown, Maryland, Tuesday morning. (Courtesy Pete Piringer/Montgomery County Fire and Rescue)
Germantown vehicle crash
Dozens of first responders went on the scene and managed to get everyone out of those cars on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026. (Courtesy Pete Piringer/Montgomery County Fire and Rescue)
Germantown vehicle crash
One of the two vehicles was significantly damaged after a crash in Germantown, Maryland, on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026. (Âé¶¹¹ÙÍø/John Domen)
Germantown vehicle crash
The other vehicle overturned after a crash in Germantown, Maryland, on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026. (Âé¶¹¹ÙÍø/John Domen)
(1/5)
Germantown vehicle crash
Germantown vehicle crash
Germantown vehicle crash
Germantown vehicle crash
Germantown vehicle crash

The Kia was reported stolen from a home in Germantown several hours after the collision, police said.

The investigation into the crash may take several weeks to months to complete, police said. The Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office will decide which criminal charges, if any, are filed once it receives the evidence.

Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here.

© 2026 Âé¶¹¹ÙÍø. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

Thomas Robertson

Thomas Robertson is an Associate Producer and Web Writer/Editor at Âé¶¹¹ÙÍø. After graduating in 2019 from James Madison University, Thomas moved away from Virginia for the first time in his life to cover the local government beat for a small daily newspaper in Zanesville, Ohio.

Federal News Network Logo
Log in to your Âé¶¹¹ÙÍø account for notifications and alerts customized for you.