Updated: MD Woman Dies After 2-Vehicle Crash On Suitland Parkway

Updated (Aug. 27, 8:55 a.m.): This story was updated with information from the Major Crash Investigations Unit of the Metropolitan Police Department's report on the two-vehicle crash.

WASHINGTON, DC — D.C. Fire and EMS personnel extinguished a burning van and transported five victims to area hospitals following a Tuesday morning crash on Suitland Parkway. One of the passengers involved in the crash later died from her injuries.

Following a preliminary investigation by the Metropolitan Police Department's Major Crash Investigations Unit, MPD determined that a Chevy Traverse was traveling around 8:50 a.m. inbound on the Suitland Parkway, when a dark colored vehicle approached from behind at a high rate of speed. As the vehicle attempted to pass the Traverse, the operator of the Traverse lost control of the vehicle, crossed the median, and struck a Ford Transit head-on. The unidentified dark vehicle continued inbound and fled the scene after sideswiping two additional vehicles, according to a police release.

The front seat passenger of the Traverse was taken by FEMS to a nearby hospital and treated for life-threatening injuries. All life-saving efforts failed, and the victim was pronounced dead.

Police identified the deceased victim as Sherry Knight, 42, of Lothian, Maryland.

FEMS units were dispatched at 8:48 a.m., for the report of a two-vehicle collision on outbound Suitland Parkway, S.E., according to Vito Maggiolo, FEMS public information officer.

"They encountered a two-vehicle accident, one commercial vehicle and a sedan," he said. "The commercial vehicle had fire in the engine compartment. We extinguished that."

Knight and the four other patients involved in the crash were transported to a nearby hospital. One patient's condition was described as critical and three others were considered in serious condition.

"The fire was quickly extinguished," Maggiolo said. "We probably had all of the patients packaged in transport vehicles in 15 minutes."

In total, FEMS dispatched seven EMS transport units, both basic ambulances and paramedic units, to the scene. Four suppression units also responded to the dispatch, including a ladder truck and a heavy rescue squad under the command of a battalion chief. An EMS supervisor was also present.

Graduate recruits from the Secret Service, who had been traveling nearby in a van at the time of the crash, were providing primary care to the patients when FEMS units arrived on the scene.

Maggiolo confirmed that the commercial vehicle involved in the crash was a Stanley Steemer van.

Update serious crash outbound Suitland Pkwy SE. 2 vehicles involved, 1 on fire extinguished by #DCsBravest. 5 patients transported, 1 extreme life threatening injuries, 1 critical, 3 serious. Van carrying @SecretService recruit graduates on scene providing care when we arrived. pic.twitter.com/apF8TWzG6k
— DC Fire and EMS (@dcfireems) August 25, 2020