A District man has been charged with murder after a crash at the intersection of 16th and L Streets NW that killed a pedestrian and left him and two others injured.
Santana Matthews, 20, of Northwest is accused of speeding and driving his Chevy Malibu through a red light at the intersection while going southbound on 16th Street NW at 3:49 p.m. Wednesday, the Metropolitan Police Department said.
He hit a Toyota Corolla that was going eastbound on L Street NW through a green light. Police alleged that as a result of Mr. Matthews hitting the Corolla, his Malibu also struck pedestrian Aaron Williams, 26, of Southeast.
According to an affidavit, Mr. Williams went airborne over a Jeep Cherokee waiting in the northbound lanes on 16th Street NW and proceeded to ricochet off the windshield and truck bed of a Chevy Colorado before hitting the ground.
Mr. Williams suffered blunt force head trauma and was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the affidavit.
The police said Mr. Santana and the drivers of the Corolla and the Cherokee suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
Mr. Matthews’ Malibu also hit a Toyota Hilux Surf and the Cherokee, and the collision pushed the Jeep into the Colorado behind it.
The police also accuse Mr. Matthews of fleeing the scene on foot before being caught and stopped by responding officers shortly thereafter.
The Metropolitan Police Department said Mr. Matthews is charged with second-degree murder while armed with a vehicle, fleeing from law enforcement, leaving after a collision and driving without a permit.
The police also said their initial investigation found that Mr. Matthews was fleeing a traffic stop by police before the crash occurred. The two officers who initiated the stop are on administrative leave pending an investigation by the department’s Internal Affairs Bureau.
Mr. Matthews is being held without bond and is due back in court on Jan. 27, according to court records.
• Brad Matthews can be reached at bmatthews@washingtontimes.com.
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