13-Year-Old Driving Stolen Kia Causes Fatal Crash in Germantown, Maryland

On the morning of August 4, 2026, a stolen 2015 Kia Optima carrying seven juveniles aged 12 to 15 was driven by a 13‑year‑old boy and entered the intersection of Clopper Road and Great Seneca Highway in Germantown, Maryland. The Kia struck a 2007 Toyota Matrix driven by 58‑year‑old William Vance Payne II. Payne was pronounced dead at the scene. The teen driver was taken to a hospital in critical but stable condition, and the six other minors were transported to various trauma centers.

The vehicle had been reported stolen from Germantown earlier that day. Montgomery County Police Department’s Collision Reconstruction Unit is leading the investigation, which could take weeks or months, and any charges will be decided by the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office. Officials noted a similar incident in Ohio last year involving an under‑age driver of a stolen Kia.

The crash highlights concerns about vehicle theft and under‑age drivers, and authorities continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the stolen vehicle and the teen’s involvement.