A father of five was killed Tuesday morning when a stolen car, allegedly driven by a 13-year-old boy and carrying six other minors, crashed into his vehicle in Germantown, Maryland. William Vance Payne II, 58, was en route to his job at the National Institutes of Standards and Technology (NIST) when the collision occurred around 5:30 a.m. at an intersection, according to the Montgomery County Police Department.
Payne was approximately three miles from his office when the stolen Kia Optima violently struck his Toyota. He was pronounced dead at the scene. His wife, Lisa Payne, described him as "kind and generous to a fault" in a statement.
The 13-year-old driver of the Kia was transported to a local hospital in critical but stable condition. The other occupants, four girls aged 12 to 14 and two boys aged 12 and 15, were taken to area trauma centers. Police stated that none of the occupants were of legal driving age. Authorities reported that the Kia Optima had been reported stolen from Germantown several hours before the crash, though details of the theft were not immediately clear.
Payne had worked at NIST for 29 years, most recently as a mechanical engineer, and was nearing retirement. A spokesperson for NIST stated that his research focused on improving the reliability, safety, and efficiency of residential heat pump and air conditioning systems. Payne is survived by his wife and five children, including three young children and two adult daughters.
The investigation into the fatal crash is ongoing and is expected to take several weeks to months to complete. No charges have been filed as of Tuesday, pending a review by the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office.