William Vance Payne II, a 58-year-old Virginia father of five, was killed early Tuesday when a stolen Kia Optima driven by a 13-year-old boy crashed into his vehicle at a Germantown intersection. The collision injured the teen driver and six other juveniles inside the stolen car.
The pre-dawn collision occurred at approximately 5:25 a.m. on Tuesday at the intersection of Clopper Road and Great Seneca Highway in Germantown, Maryland, according to Montgomery County police. Payne, a resident of Berryville in the Shenandoah Valley, was driving a blue 2007 Toyota Matrix east along Clopper Road on his way to work when a white 2015 Kia Optima traveling northbound entered the intersection and struck his vehicle.
First responders arrived to find both vehicles heavily damaged. Payne suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Seven Juveniles Inside the Stolen Kia Optima
Investigators determined that the Kia was occupied by seven minors ranging in age from 12 to 15. The group included four girls, ages 14, 14, 13 and 12, and three boys, ages 15, 13 and 12, according to the Montgomery County Department of Police.
Police stated that a 13-year-old boy was behind the wheel. He was transported to a hospital in critical but stable condition. The six other passengers were also taken to area trauma centers with injuries of varying severity.
Authorities confirmed that the vehicle had been reported stolen from Germantown several hours after the collision took place. Police said the Kia had been driven in town hours earlier with the six other juveniles. Officers responding to the scene found that the 13-year-old boy drove north on Great Seneca Highway and slammed into Payne’s car just before 5:30 a.m.
Neighbors in Berryville, Va., where Payne lived, expressed shock over the incident. Audrey Facemire, a neighbor who lived near Payne and was friendly with his wife, questioned the circumstances of the crash. What were they doing out at morning commute time in a car?
Facemire asked, adding, Having kids steal a vehicle and go joyriding at five in the morning, it just seems really odd.
Remembering William Vance Payne II
Payne was a mechanical engineer who spent nearly three decades working at the National Institute of Standards and Technology in Gaithersburg. Colleagues and family members remembered him for his dedication both at home and in his career.
Dr. W. Vance Payne II worked at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) for 29 years. A co-worker described Payne as one of the “most warm” and “friendlypeople he had ever known, calling him
salt of the earth” and adding that the loss was devastating to Payne’s co-workers.
Family members shared their grief over the sudden loss of a devoted husband and friend to so many. Payne’s family provided a statement to 7News: We are focusing on our family right now as we process the tragic and painful loss of a devoted father, husband and friend to so many. Please respect our privacy at this time.
His wife, Lisa Payne, released a brief statement: William Vance Payne II was known as Vance. He was 58. He was kind and generous to a fault.
An online fundraiser was established by family and friends to assist Payne’s family. According to the GoFundMe page set up by family and friends, Payne leaves behind a wife and five children—a young son, two young daughters and two adult daughters—and was on his way to work when he was hit.
Ongoing Investigation and Potential Charges
The investigation into the crash is ongoing. Montgomery County police and Montgomery County Fire Rescue personnel responded to find both vehicles severely damaged, and investigators noted that the Kia had been reported stolen hours after the crash.
Authorities have not said what charges the kids may face after the crash. All seven kids were taken to the hospital, and the 13-year-old accused driver was initially listed in critical condition before being described as stable.
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