One teen was killed and another critically injured in a crash Sunday in St. Mary's County.
At about 3:15 p.m., 17-year-old Nicole Yelena Pitonyak, of Brandywine, lost control of a blue 2004 Ford Focus traveling southbound on Maryland Route 5 just north of Maryland Route 6, according to the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office. The car struck a tree in the center median.
Nicole was pronounced dead at the scene. A 16-year-old female passenger was flown to Prince George's County Shock Trauma.
Witnesses reported seeing the Ford Focus traveling side by side with a small, silver car at a high rate of speed, but the sheriff's investigation uncovered no evidence of drag racing.
Speed is believed to be a factor in the crash, according to the sheriff's office.
Both girls attended North Point High School in Waldorf. Nicole was a junior. Grief counselors were at the school Monday morning.
Anyone with information about the crash should call the sheriff's office at 301-475-4200, ext. 9115.
