William Vance Payne II was killed when police say a stolen car driven by a 13-year-old struck his vehicle.
GERMANTOWN, Md. — A longtime federal researcher was identified as the man killed in a Germantown collision involving a stolen car that police say was driven by a 13-year-old boy and carried six other children.
William Vance Payne II, 58, of Virginia, died at the scene of the early morning crash Tuesday, Aug. 4, at Great Seneca Highway and Clopper Road, according to the Montgomery County Police Department. Payne was driving a blue 2007 Toyota Matrix and was its only occupant.
Payne worked for the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the federal research agency based in Gaithersburg. The agency said his work focused on improving the reliability, safety and efficiency of residential heat pumps and air-conditioning systems. NIST expressed condolences to his family, friends and colleagues.
Payne had worked at the agency for 29 years, according to published reports citing his family and employer. His wife, Lisa Payne, described him as kind and generous. People who knew him called him Vance.
The collision occurred about 5:25 a.m., police said. Based on the department’s preliminary investigation, a white 2015 Kia Optima was traveling north on Great Seneca Highway when it entered the intersection and struck Payne’s Toyota as it traveled east on Clopper Road.
The Kia was carrying seven children between the ages of 12 and 15. Police believe a 13-year-old boy was driving. The other occupants were four girls and two boys. Authorities said no one in the Kia was old enough to be a licensed driver.
The suspected driver was taken to a hospital in critical but stable condition. The six passengers were transported to several trauma centers with injuries of varying severity, police said. Authorities had not released updated conditions for the children as of Thursday.
Emergency personnel found the Kia overturned and both vehicles extensively damaged. Some occupants were trapped, requiring firefighters to stabilize the wreckage and remove them. Crews also provided emergency medical care and extinguished a small fire, according to fire and rescue officials.
Police said the Kia had been stolen from a Germantown residence. Investigators have not publicly explained how the children obtained the car, where they had been before the crash or how long the vehicle had been in their possession. No arrests or charges have been announced.
The crash left investigators with several unresolved questions, including the vehicles’ speeds, the status of the traffic signals and whether any other conduct contributed to the collision. Police have not released findings on those issues and said their reconstruction work could take months.
The Montgomery County Police Department’s Collision Reconstruction Unit is leading the investigation. When that work is complete, evidence related to the crash may be presented to the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office, which will decide whether to pursue charges.
Payne’s death also brought mourning to the federal research community where he spent much of his career. NIST said his work was intended to make heating and cooling equipment safer and more dependable for the residents who rely on it.
The investigation remained open Thursday. Police said further information, including any charging decision, would depend on the evidence collected and reviewed in the coming months.
Author note: Last updated Aug. 6, 2026.