UPDATED: Teen Suffers Life-Threatening Injuries In Cycling Accident Early Thursday
Police: 15-year-old female involved in serious collision at the intersection of Route 124 and Airpark Road in Gaithersburg.
Update (2:46 p.m.): Montgomery County police have identified the victim of the collision as Nicole Marie Polen, 15, of the 19900 block of Burchap Place in Montgomery Village. Nicole will be a junior at Gaithersburg High School at the start of the school year on Monday, police said.
Polen was accompanied by a 16-year-old friend, who was not injured, police said.
The driver of the vehicle was William Earle Maselas, 30, of the 4200 block of Charley Forest Street in Olney, police said. Maselas did not have any injuries and remained at the scene with witnesses to speak with police.
Police confirmed that although Polen and her friend were in a crosswalk, they attempted to cross the intersection of Route 124 and Airpark Road against the pedestrian signal.
The circumstances surrounding this collision remain under investigation and police are asking anyone who witnessed the collision and have not already talked to investigators to contact the Collision Reconstruction Unit at 301-840-2435.
Update (1:48 p.m.): The 15-year-old victim and her teenage friend were crossing the intersection of Route 124 and Airpark Road in Gaithersburg in the crosswalk at a time they were not supposed to be crossing when the victim was struck by a vehicle, NBC Washington reported.
The victim was wearing a helmet at the time of the incident and was thrown from her bicycle, according to the report. The victim's friend, who was also riding a bicycle, managed to cross the road safely.
The driver of the vehicle that struck the 15-year-old girl remained at the scene.
Watch the full report on NBC Washington.
Original Post (8:56 a.m.): A 15-year-old girl suffered serious, life-threatening injuries in a collision at the intersection of Route 124 (Woodfield Road) and Airpark Road in Gaithersburg early Thursday, Montgomery County police tweeted.
The girl, who was riding her bicycle, was struck just before 7 a.m. and was transported by ambulance to a local hospital, police spokesperson officer Rebecca Innocenti told Patch.
Southband lanes on Route 124 were closed as of 8:40 a.m. while MCPD's Collision Reconstruction Unit investigated the incident, Innocenti said. It was unclear if the girl was crossing the intersection or riding her bike with the flow of traffic, she added.
Editor's Note: This article was corrected at 8 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 27 to correctly reflect Polen's grade at Gaithersburg High School. Montgomery County Police initially reported Polen would be a sophomore in 2012.
localron
9:51 am on Thursday, August 23, 2012
Channel5 local news said 8 AM and that she was crossing. Don't know what to believe anymore.
Sable Poe
4:02 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012
Were were on the scene and we were behind the car that struck the bicycle. Both girls ignored the green light and rode half way to the middle. They were almost hit and I thought that they would wait in the middle for the light to change. They did not. They proceed to ride the second half. I scream at my driver to look out and that is when the car in front of us (about 20 feet) hit the back wheel of her bike and it was chaos from then. I am praying that she make a good recovery. It is a miracle that we did not hit her.
R.
1:43 pm on Friday, August 24, 2012
We are praying for you Nicole.
Dannielle
5:46 am on Sunday, August 26, 2012
Pray for Nicole, she is a wonderful girl who unfortunately made a bad choice and is now going through the fight of her life. Pray for strength for her family and friends so that they can be strong for Nicole as she fights to get better.
Linda I
12:55 pm on Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Strength and prayers go to Nicole and her family. I don't know Nicole, however "know of" the family thru school and the neighborhood pool. It's the nightmare of every parent.
How cruel to leave nasty comments. This is a teenager, someone's daughter, a sister, and friend. Before leaving a nasty comment that her family and friends could see, think of this quote, "In what you say of another, apply the test of kindness, necessity and truth, and let nothing pass your lips without a 2/3 majority. ~Liz Armbruster~". You may believe that what you say is true--and, of course, who is to say what's true to you?--however why actually post it if it's not kind and/or necessary.
Teenagers do not have the judgment of adults--well, I've seen many adults do risky things, too, so perhaps I should say that teenagers don't necessarily have the best judgment--they tend to believe they are invincible. I'm sure that most adults can look back and realize that we took part in risky behavior as teens/young adults and can be grateful we survived. "There but for the grace of God go I".....
CV
3:07 pm on Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Thank you Linda, you took the words right out of my mouth... Nicole is a wonderful young lady; an Honors Student, an All-Star Swimmer and accomplished Cross Country runner. She was not drunk, high, or stealing the bike. She was wearing a helmet (how many 15 year olds do?!), and was in the crosswalk. She is now fighting for her life; we should all be praying for her!
Toni Ann Ricer
3:04 pm on Monday, September 10, 2012
Nicole is family to me and I cannot believe how heartless people are with their words. If she made an error in judgement, remember she's only 15. May her parents never read your dispicable comments. For those keeping the Polen family in your prayers. Thank you and please continue.
LB
1:28 pm on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Please remove KS's vicious comment. Nicole Polen is an intelligent, kind, athletic young lady who contributes positively to her community. She and her family should not be subjected to such a callous statement. One wonders why KS's comment remains posted. It has no value except to cause pain to all who love her. Please pray for Nicole and her family. LB
LB
12:21 am on Monday, October 8, 2012
Thank you for removing KS's inappropriate comment.
Polite message
3:01 pm on Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Audrey Piwo, how old are you? Have you every made a mistake? I spoke with a documented witness. Were you really there? If you were, you may have seen things differently. Did you stop to help? Did you call 911? Don't you realize that your comment was unnecessary and mean? Or are you too DUMB, DUMB, DUMB to be polite?
Greg Cohen
1:41 pm on Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Patch has removedcomments by "Sue Brown" because the user alleged a minor was to blame for this incident without any official confirmation from police. Comment moderation for this article has been changed and all comments are subject to a review before posting.
Please refer to the Patch Terms of Use for more information: http://gaithersburg.patch.com/terms
Kathy K.
2:08 pm on Wednesday, February 6, 2013
The "other" girl was 16, possibly 17 by now. It is very wrong for the other girl to go on with life and school, but not be able to write a note to Nicole. Not visiting, I can understand, Nicole was severely injured and the appearance was shocking. Not calling okay. But not writing? Who can't sit down and put pen to paper unless they refuse to do so. With all of the losses and suffering Nicole has endured, it is disrepectful to not show that her life was precious enough to warrant one note from the "other" girl. Nicole is paying the price for the other girl's poor bike route choice. That is not worth even one note? The purpose served by Ms. Brown's comments were to point out that the family is being cruel and disrespectful by not having their daughter show Nicole a simple common decency. Society should not allow this.
Monica Goodman
12:45 pm on Thursday, February 14, 2013
Please continue prayers for Nicole. Her family is still struggling to deal with the great losses and Nicole's struggles.
Monica Goodman
5:12 pm on Thursday, March 14, 2013
Another thought: If the bike route choice is not a contributing factor to the accident, then the family of the uninjured girl would be fine with the uninjured girls taking her sister on the same ride in the same conditions.