Crash In Washington County Claims The Life Of A Smithsburg Teen


A BMW going at a high rate of speed caused the accident


Hagerstown, Md. (DG) – An accident in Washington County killed a 19-year-old Smithsburg girl.

Maryland State Police in Hagerstown responded to the accident on Route 64 west of Little Antietam Road Friday at around 10 PM.

Investigators say a BMW driven by 22-year-old Kevin Argueta of Silver Spring was traveling westbound on Route 64 at a high rate of speed. The BMW passed a Kia Soul, crossing over the double yellow line. The driver of the BMW sideswiped the left front corner of the Kia and lost control.

The BMW spun out of control and ran off the road into a residential property, striking a tree on the passenger side of the vehicle, and then striking a van parked in the driveway of a home on Jefferson Boulevard.

The van was pushed into the house causing structural damage.

The front seat passenger of the BMW suffered serious injury and was taken to Meritus Medical Center where she died. Police identified her as Melanie Melendez from Smithsburg, Maryland.

The cause of the accident and is still under investigation, and no charges have been filed yet.