A 30-year-old Green Party candidate for the U.S. Senate in Maryland has died from injuries she received in a crash as she was cycling in Upper Marlboro early Sunday morning.
The driver, Christy Littleford, told police she thought she struck an animal while driving home on Route 202 at about 5:30 a.m. Because of the darkness in the area, she did not want to stop, so she continued on to her Upper Marlboro home, according to Maryland State Police. When she arrived, Littleford and her husband found Natasha Pettigrew’s bicycle lodged under her Cadillac Escalade and contacted the Prince George’s County police.
Pettigrew, a Cheverly resident who was training for a triathlon, already had called the police from the scene of the crash, near Campus Way. Maryland State Police responded, and Pettigrew was taken to Prince George’s Hospital Center, where she died at about 10:30 p.m. Monday.
Police have the sport utility vehicle and Pettigrew’s bicycle in custody. So far no evidence of reflective gear or lighted material worn by Pettigrew or on the bicycle has been found, said Trooper Charles Smith at the Maryland State Police’s Forestville barracks. There is no indication alcohol was involved.
WUSA-9 reported that it found pieces of reflective plastic a few feet from the scene of the crash.
No charges have been filed. Police are still investigating the crash. Once completed, they will present findings to the state’s attorneys’ office.
Pettigrew was running as the Green Party candidate for Democratic Sen. Barbara Mikulski’s seat. The aspiring politician was born in D.C. but grew up in suburban Riverdale and Cheverly. She was on leave from the University of Miami School of Law while running her campaign.
“Natasha was a bright, hardworking young woman who had talked to many Maryland voters as a candidate and meant much to many Marylanders as a person,” Maryland Green Party Co-Chairman Brian Bittner said. “She had incredible potential as a future leader for this party and this state.”
Pettigrew’s mother, Kenniss Henry, is planning to hold a memorial vigil this week.
