It was just after 8:40 p.m. last Wednesday when a quiet stretch of South Division Street in Fruitland, Maryland turned tragic. A red Honda Civic driven by 18-year-old Matthew Garcia of Rockville failed to stop at a posted stop sign, barreled through a guardrail and plunged into Coulbourn Mill Pond. Emergency crews rushed in, but Garcia later died from his injuries.
Police and divers from multiple agencies worked into the night recovering the three teens from the cold water. One person rode out on top of the submerged car; two others were pulled from inside by first responders. The scene was chaotic, tense, and heartbreaking for everyone involved.
Garcia was flown by helicopter to a trauma center, but he did not survive. The other two passengers — Andy Fon Koh of Takoma Park and Eyuael Zewdie of Washington, D.C., both 18 — were seriously hurt. Koh was airlifted to a shock trauma hospital in Baltimore. Zewdie was taken by ambulance to a local hospital in Salisbury.
Salisbury University confirmed all three were students. Garcia was a freshman studying international business and an active member of his campus community. His friends remember him as kind, loyal, and ready to help at any moment. The school has opened counseling services for classmates who are struggling to make sense of the sudden loss.
Local police say early investigation points to speeding as a likely factor in the single-vehicle crash. Around 8:41 p.m., the car ran the stop sign at the intersection, failed to make the turn, and ended up deep in the pond. Road closures stayed in place for more than four hours while authorities examined the scene.
Family and classmates gathered in quiet sorrow in the days that followed. Many spoke softly of Garcia’s smile and plans for the future, now cut short. Counseling and community support groups have been set up as the campus tries to heal.
Authorities continue their investigation into the crash. For now, Fruitland is left with a stark reminder of how fast life can change — and how much a community can feel the loss of one young life.
