Speed now a factor in April collision that killed motorcyclist, young girl

A motorcyclist's speed led to his death and the death of a child in another vehicle earlier this year, the St. Mary's sheriff's office concluded in an investigation.

The sheriff’s office had reported that a Waldorf man driving a motorcycle died April 7 after a collision with an SUV in Hollywood at 10:19 a.m. that morning. St. Mary’s sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to Three Notch Road and Tom Hodges Drive where they determined that a 2006 Yamaha motorcycle had collided with a 2008 Hyundai Sonata.

The initial investigation determined that the motorcycle, driven by Tiernan Anthony Stephenson, 21, was traveling north on Three Notch Road when the Hyundai, driven by Stephanie Rose Robey, 36, of Hollywood, pulled into the path of the motorcycle while attempting to cross the road from Tom Hodges Drive, according to a release from the sheriff’s office.

Stephenson struck the driver’s side back door and was ejected from the motorcycle, according the sheriff’s office. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the SUV was transported to MedStar Washington Hospital Center, and a girl, 9, in the SUV was transported via Maryland State Police Aviation Trooper 7 to Children’s Hospital in critical condition, the sheriff’s office had reported earlier this month. The girl was taken off of life support and died on April 18.

"Footage from the helmet camera worn by Stephenson showed the motorcycle traveling 164 mph immediately before impact," according to the sheriff's office.

The investigation, conducted by the sheriff’s office's Reconstruction Unit, determined the motorcycle operator’s excessive speed caused the collision.

"The impact of this crash has left permanent scars on the families involved; it is devastating. Witnesses and first responders are profoundly shaken by what they saw on April 7," following the release of the investigative findings earlier this week, Sheriff Steve Hall (R) said. "It has been said many times before, but our message begs repeating: driving the speed limit and maintaining focus on the road must be intentional and habitual. The social contract between all drivers is one of the most important we make; it is rooted in the truth that every life — yours, your passengers, and those of others on the road — matters to someone."