On Saturday, June 23, 2001, at approximately 1:30 A.M., a head on collision occurred between two passenger vehicles in the 3400 block of Massachusetts Avenue, NW. After the collision one of the operators fled the scene on foot without making his identity known or offering assistance. All three occupants of the other vehicle were transported by ambulance to area hospitals for treatment. One of these occupants ultimately succumbed to her injuries. Her identity is being withheld pending notification of her next of kin.

Officers and canine units canvassed the area surrounding the collision with negative results. However, while the accident scene was still being processed, members of the United States Secret Service notified the MPDC personnel that a subject had been located on the grounds of the Vice President's residence. Probable cause existed that this was the vehicle operator who had fled from the scene of the accident, therefor, he was arrested and charged with Negligent Homicide. The suspect has been identified as 29-year-old Wayne Bernard Minor Mitchell of New Carrollton, Maryland. He was arraigned in DC Superior Court on Monday, June 25th.

This is the nineteenth traffic fatality for 2001 as compared to eighteen at the same time last year.