William Vance Payne II, a 58-year-old mechanical engineer from Virginia, was killed on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, when a stolen Kia Optima driven by a 13-year-old boy ran a Germantown, Maryland, intersection, carrying seven minors aged 12 to 15.
The Fatal Intersection Collision in Germantown
The violent collision occurred shortly before sunrise, at approximately 5:25 a.m., at the intersection of Clopper Road and Great Seneca Highway in Germantown, Maryland. First responders arrived to find extensive damage to both vehicles involved: a blue 2007 Toyota Matrix and a white 2015 Kia Optima.
According to Montgomery County police, Payne was driving the Toyota Matrix east along Clopper Road on his way to work. The white Kia Optima, heading north on Great Seneca Highway, entered the intersection and struck Payne’s vehicle. Payne was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Kia was packed with seven children ranging in age from 12 to 15 years old, none of whom were old enough to hold a driver’s license. Police reported that the vehicle carried four girls—two aged 14, one 13, and one 12—along with three boys, including the 13-year-old driver, a 15-year-old, and a 12-year-old. Shiera Goff of the Montgomery County police noted that some occupants were unsecured, with passengers sitting on each other’s laps.
Emergency Response and Investigation Into the Stolen Vehicle
Dozens of emergency personnel rushed to the scene, deploying five ambulances, five medic units, and four engines to extricate the injured from the wreckage. The teenage driver was transported to a hospital in critical but stable condition, while the six passengers sustained injuries of varying severity and were also taken to area trauma centers.
Investigators subsequently determined that the white Kia Optima had been reported stolen from a Montgomery County residence several hours after the collision occurred. Prior to the crash, police had received a report of erratic driving in the area, but the incident unfolded before officers could intercept the vehicle.
The county’s crash reconstruction unit is leading the ongoing investigation, which authorities estimate could take several weeks or months. Police stated that any potential criminal charges against the minors will be determined by the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office once the evidence is formally presented.
Remembering William Vance Payne II
The victim, William Vance Payne II of Berryville, Virginia, was a father of five who lived in the Shenandoah Valley and was just a ten-minute drive from his workplace when the crash occurred. Known to family and colleagues as Vance, he was remembered by his wife in a brief statement.
“William Vance Payne II was known as Vance. He was 58. He was kind and generous to a fault.”
Lisa Payne, Wife
Payne had dedicated 29 years of his career as a mechanical engineer at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Gaithersburg, working within the Engineering Laboratory’s Building Energy and Environment Division. Colleagues noted that his professional work centered on improving the safety, efficiency, and reliability of residential heat pump and air conditioning systems.
A coworker who visited the crash site described Payne as salt of the earth
and one of the most warm and friendly individuals he had ever known, adding that his loss has devastated his colleagues as he was close to reaching retirement.
Community Reaction and Safety Concerns
Shiera Goff emphasized the fundamental danger of underage driving during early morning hours, issuing a direct message to parents.
“At this age, they’re not supposed to be driving. You do not have a license at the age of 15. Right now, I would say, parents, just make sure you know where your children are. This happened at 5 o’clock in the morning.”
Shiera Goff, Montgomery County Police
Nearby residents expressed deep shock over the circumstances of the early morning crash and the profound grief inflicted upon the victim’s family.
“I can’t even be able to imagine one of the family members getting that call, right? Yeah. So that’s kind of where I’m stuck. God — my heart’s out to the family and the other people that were involved in the accident.”
Cleveland Harrison, Local Resident
An online fundraiser has been established to assist Payne’s family with expenses as they navigate their loss, while state prosecutors and investigators continue reviewing the case files to determine accountability.
