A father of two was killed and his teenage stepdaughter was seriously hurt in Capitol Heights, Maryland Sunday evening when the all-terrain vehicle (ATV) they were riding crashed with an SUV, police and the victims' family say.
Jerome Odom, 29, died after the crash about 6 p.m. Sunday on the 7300 block of Walker Mill Road, police said in an update Monday afternoon.
According to a preliminary investigation by Prince George's County police, Odom was steering the ATV east on Walker Mill Road with the teen riding as a passenger when an SUV driver headed west tried to make a left turn onto Waterford Drive. The impact threw Odom and his stepdaughter from the ATV. Odom was rushed to a hospital, where he later was pronounced dead. His stepdaughter was flown to a trauma center with serious injuries. They were not wearing helmets, police said.
Odom's aunt, Lolita McKie, said there had been a family gathering nearby, and family members rushed to the crash scene.
"He was the life of the party in our family," McKie said. "He was a good person. He was always making you laugh."
McKie said her nephew was a hard worker who recently got married.
ATVs are illegal to drive on roads maintained by Prince George's County. Drivers caught violating the rules face a fine of as much as $290, the vehicle can be impounded and drivers can be arrested for operating an uninsured vehicle.
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McKie advised people to follow the law.
"Leave those bikes and stuff alone," she said. "If you're not riding at the off-road terrain or where it's legal to ride them, just leave them alone."
Anyone with information on the crash is asked to call police at 301-731-4422 or 1-866-411-TIPS. Tips can be sent by text message to CRIMES, with PGPD plus the message.
