5-Vehicle Wheaton Crash Kills Man, Sends 5 To Hospitals

WHEATON, MD — A Silver Spring driver was killed, and five people were taken to area hospitals after five vehicles collided in a Wheaton intersection, according to Montgomery County Police. The multiple collisions happened about 7:45 a.m. Wednesday at the intersection of Connecticut Avenue and Dean Road.

Authorities say Yonatan Tedros, 18, of the 2800 block of Harris Drive in Silver Spring, was taken to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries, and later died. A juvenile passenger in Tedros' 2016 Honda Civic was taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Investigators say Tedros' Civic was northbound on Connecticut Avenue approaching Dean Road when a 2009 Nissan Altima tried to turn right from westbound Dean Road onto northbound Connecticut Avenue, and the vehicles collided. After the crash, the Civic crossed the median and struck a 2004 Mazda3 that was attempting to turn left onto Dean Road from southbound Connecticut Avenue.

The impact of the second collision caused the Mazda3 to be pushed into a 2006 Nissan Murano which was stopped behind the Mazda3 and also was attempting to turn left onto Dean Road from southbound Connecticut Avenue. The Murano was then struck by a 2012 Toyota Venza that was southbound on Connecticut Avenue approaching Dean Road.

The driver of the 2009 Nissan Altima — Stephanie Danielle De Witt, 30, of the 1400 block of Tollison Drive in Bowie — was taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The Murano's driver — Analis Cepeda, 33, of the 14000 block of Whispering Pines Court in Silver Spring — was not hurt.

The driver of the 2004 Mazda3 — Sakinatu Marie Seisay, 22, of the 18000 block of Sunhaven Court in Olney— was taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. A passenger in the Seisay's vehicle was also taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The driver of the 2012 Toyota Venza — Ana Lorena Arevalo Orellana, 41, of the 14000 block of Whispering Pines Court in Silver Spring — was taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

This collision remains under investigation. Anyone who saw the crash or has information about this collision is asked to call the Collision Reconstruction Unit at 240-773-6620.

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