Twenty-six-year-old Mariama Samateh of Silver Spring was killed Sunday night, Nov. 23, when her car left the road, struck a tree and overturned — police confirmed Monday.
It was just before 10 p.m. on a quiet Sunday evening when first responders rushed to the area of Cherry Hill Road near O’Fallon Street in Montgomery County. A blue 2007 Toyota Avalon sat overturned — its driver trapped inside. The victim: 26-year-old Mariama Samateh, a Silver Spring resident.
Fire and rescue crews worked quickly to extricate her from the wreckage and perform life-saving measures. But despite their efforts, Samateh was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to preliminary findings by the Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD), Samateh had been driving westbound on Cherry Hill Road when she failed to negotiate a curve. Her vehicle veered off the roadway, hit a tree, and flipped over.
No other vehicles were involved, authorities said. The crash remains under investigation. The county’s Collision Reconstruction Unit — the team that handles serious and fatal crashes — is gathering evidence, analyzing vehicle data, assessing roadway conditions, and speaking with possible witnesses.
Police cautioned that rebuilding what happened could take weeks or more, depending on the complexity of the findings. Meanwhile, they are urging anyone who may have witnessed the crash — or captured dash-cam video — to come forward.
For the community, Samateh’s death is a sudden and heartbreaking shock. Friends, neighbors, and fellow residents of Silver Spring have begun to express condolences, sharing their grief at the devastating loss of a young life. Many are reminded how a split second — a momentary miscalculation or unexpected swerve — can change everything.
As the MCPD continues its careful, methodical work to find out exactly what happened that night, the hope is to bring clarity — and a measure of closure — to Samateh’s loved ones. Until then, her loss hangs heavy over a road that will likely feel different to those who travel it after dark.
