A 15-year-old was behind the wheel of the vehicle that careened out of control on a wet Wheaton road early Monday, killing one of its passengers, Montgomery County police said Wednesday.
Police said Hong Vinh Le, of Silver Spring, was traveling westbound on Bonifant Road approaching Alderton Road in Wheaton around 2 a.m. Monday when he lost control, crossed the center line and struck several trees.
Christian Cruz, a 17-year-old Springbrook High School junior riding in the backseat, was killed.
Two other 15-year-olds, Simon Nguyen and Christian Pleitez-Reyes, both of Silver Spring, were treated at hospitals for minor injuries and released.
Cruz was the only teen not wearing a seat belt, police said.
Police said Le was speeding but added that alcohol and drugs did not appear to be factors. Cpl. Jimmy Robinson said department investigators were working with the State Attorney’s Office and juvenile justice system to determine whether charges would be filed. The crash remained under investigation Wednesday.
“It usually takes weeks,” Robinson said.
Cruz’s mother, speaking through an interpreter, told The Examiner she last saw her son at home around 9:30 p.m. Sunday and did not know he had gone out.
Cruz was the seventh Maryland teen to die in a car crash in recent weeks.
