Crime & Safety
Paint Branch Student, Mom Killed In Highway Crash: Police
Police say a mother and daughter from Silver Spring died in a Charles County crash.
SILVER SPRING, MD — A Paint Branch High School student and her mother were killed in a crash in Charles County, according to Maryland State Police.
Authorities have identified the two victims killed in the July 27 crash as 15-year-old Halimatou Diallo and 49-year-old Fatoumata Binta Diakite, both of Silver Spring.
The fatal crash happened around 7:30 a.m. Both Diallo and Diakite were passengers in a car traveling southbound on Crain Highway when it was rear-ended by another vehicle.
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Following a preliminary investigation, police determined that a GMC Yukon struck the rear of a Toyota Corolla hatchback. Diakite, the front passenger of the Toyota, and her daughter, the rear seat passenger, were pronounced dead on the scene.
The driver of the Toyota, identified as 49-year-old Houssainatou Boiro, was flown to Medstar Washington Medical Center for treatment. The extent of her injuries are unclear.
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Police have identified the driver of the GMC Yukon as Pedro David Garcia, 31, of Yulee, Florida. He was taken to the University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Center in LaPlata.
The Maryland State Police Gun Center is also assisting the investigation after troopers found a loaded 9mm gun in the car.
Diallo was a rising junior at Paint Branch High School in Burtonsville. She was also a member of the school's cross country and track team.
In a Twitter post dated July 28, the team shared the news of Diallo's death with a photo collage.
"Our beautiful angel Halimatou, your memory will forever live on! Our hearts are completely broken right now, the pain is real. We love you so much & already miss you terribly," the post read.
On behalf of the PB Track family, I express my deepest condolences to the Diallo family! Our beautiful angel Halimatou, your memory will forever live on! Our hearts are completely broken right now, the pain is real. We love you so much & already miss you terribly. #rip pic.twitter.com/RkLLi6SDUN
— PBHS XC & Track (@PBHS_Track) July 29, 2019
A funeral service was held for Diallo and her mother on Aug. 2.
Anyone who witnessed this crash should call Cpl. Zimmerman of the Maryland State Police Crash Team at (301) 392-1231.
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