The woman and man were walking across the street toward a polling place when the driver of a Prius struck them, killing them both, police and witnesses said. News4’s Paul Wagner reports.
A driver hit and killed a 70-year-old woman and a 65-year-old man as they walked toward a polling place in Gaithersburg, Maryland, Tuesday morning, witnesses and police said.
Ana Ortiz and Miguel Ortiz were critically injured when a blue Prius hit them about 7:20 a.m. near Fields Road Elementary School on School Drive, police said. The school was used as a voting location in Montgomery County.
Medics took the couple to a hospital, where they died. Police said they were using the crosswalk at the time of the crash.
The couple had four children and nine grandchildren, their son Steven Oritz told News4. He said his parents were “the nicest people anyone could meet” and “didn’t deserve this.”
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Ana and Miguel Oritz lived in the neighborhood a block from where they were killed for nearly 35 years, Steven Oritz said. They immigrated to the U.S. decades ago and worked hard to become U.S. citizens, according to their son.
Police said the driver of the car remained at the scene. Officers were seen giving the driver a field sobriety test and putting him into a police car. Police confirmed they are investigating whether alcohol impairment contributed to the crash.
Several shoes and a purse were scattered on the road near a blue Prius with a shattered window after the crash.
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"I saw everything. Mama, mama," Nicole Ukiteyedy cried outside of the voting center.
Ukiteyedy said she was preparing handouts for Congressman David Trone when she heard the collision.
"Female screaming, 'Oh my God' and possibly someone dying," a dispatcher said, according to audio obtained by News4.
“It was really loud and the other lady tried to give CPR and I was with the man," Ukiteyedy said.
She said she knew the couple from the neighborhood and believed they were crossing the street to vote.
Lashawn Rankin, who lives near the school, said it is not uncommon for drivers to speed on School Drive.
“Once you come over that hill blind, it's too late to slow down, so most cars try to slow down by the time they come to this crossing walk, but normally, that’s the issue,” Rankin said. “The crossing guard is here during the day, and she does a good job; like I said, we’ve made these complaints before, and hopefully something will be done about it today.”
News4 viewed photos and video Ukiteyedy and other witnesses captured in the minutes after the collision. The graphic images show first responders and others caring for the victims while the driver stood by the car watching.
"He just didn’t move or say anything. Like a statue," one woman told News4.
School Drive near the voting center was closed for several hours but has since reopened. During the road closure, police said voters could still park and vote at Fields Road Elementary School if they entered from the Muddy Branch Road side.
Montgomery County Public Schools were not in session Tuesday due to Election Day.
Stay with NBC Washington and News4 for more.
