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Maryland Department of State Police

Maryland State Police Investigating Two-Vehicle Crash That Killed Two in Montgomery County

News |

(BETHESDA, MD) – Maryland State Police are investigating a two-vehicle crash that occurred Saturday night in Montgomery County and resulted in the deaths of two people. 

The deceased are identified as Musammat Shamima Begum, 46, and Areebah Jahin, 23, of Burke and Alexandria, Virginia. Begum and Jahin were mother and daughter and were passengers in a Toyota Camry involved in the crash. The driver and a juvenile passenger of the Toyota, a 62-year-old male and an 8-year-old female, were transported by ambulance to local hospitals for treatment of their injuries. 

The driver and sole occupant of a Ford Mustang, identified as Jose Caballero Nolasco, 32, of Germantown, Maryland, was transported to a local hospital for treatment of his injuries. 

At approximately 6:46 p.m., troopers from the Maryland State Police Rockville Barrack responded to the area of southbound I-270 just south of Democracy Boulevard for a report of a two-vehicle crash. The preliminary investigation indicates that the Ford was traveling northbound in the southbound lanes of I-270 when it struck the Toyota head-on.  Investigators believe impairment may be a contributing factor in the crash.

Nolasco is currently charged with two counts of gross negligent manslaughter, two counts of homicide by motor vehicle while impaired by alcohol, and one count of life-threatening injury by motor vehicle. Nolasco has since been released from the hospital and was transported to the Montgomery County Detention Center, where he is awaiting an appearance before a court commissioner. 

Lanes were closed for approximately five hours for the crash investigation. The Maryland State Police Crash Team continues to lead the active and ongoing investigation.