On February 9 at 10:42 p.m., Charles County Sheriff’s officers responded to the 7300 block of Olivers Shop Road in La Plata for the report of a motor vehicle crash involving one car.
A preliminary investigation revealed the driver, Katherine Kristen Murray, 16 of La Plata, (attended La Plata High School) was operating a Honda passenger car when she lost control of her vehicle and struck a tree; she died on the scene. There were no passengers in the car.
The cause of the crash is under investigation but icy road conditions appear to be a contributing factor. Ms. Murray was wearing a seatbelt.
Sheriff Rex W. Coffey said the Sheriff’s Office is committed to promoting safe driving among teens and news of Katie’s accident has been devastating to many people in the Charles County community. Cpl. R. Taylor of the Charles County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Operations Unit is investigating.