2 killed, 6 injured in crash

Police say two people were killed, six injured, in a fiery two-vehicle crash Saturday night in Hughesville. Investigators believe the accident was caused by alcohol, speed and driver error.

Authorities have identified the victims as Michael Lee Simms, 49, of Linden, Va. and Lashawnia Inez Hagan, 49, of Waldorf, the driver and front seat passenger of a Chevrolet Suburban that crashed into the rear of a Jeep Cherokee before careening off the roadway

into a wooded area, where it struck trees, severed a telephone pole, overturned and caught fire, according to a police news release.

Around 10:53 p.m. on Saturday, Maryland State Police troopers and first responders were called to Leonardtown Road, north of Cracklingtown Road, the release states. Simms and Hagan were pronounced dead on the scene, while four other occupants of the Suburban were helped out of the burning vehicle by witnesses of the crash and were airlifted to the hospital. The driver and passenger of the Cherokee were also hospitalized with injuries.

Investigators found that the Cherokee had been traveling north on Leonardtown Road when it was struck from behind by the Suburban, according to police. After interviewing witnesses and collecting evidence, investigators believe alcohol, speed and driver error caused the crash. Autopsies will be conducted.

The investigation is being continued by Cpl. J. Zimmerman, a collision reconstruction specialist assigned to the Maryland State Police CRASH Team. Anyone who may have witnessed or who has information regarding this collision is asked to contact the La Plata barrack duty officer at 301-392-1200 and reference case number 17MSP-015718.