High school senior crashes car, killed by wires

By Amanda Krew
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writer

The Baltimore County Police Department Wednesday continued an investigation of a car crash on Charles Street that resulted in the death of a 17-year-old George Washington Carver student.

Kayla Winter Perry, 17, of the unit block of Phlox Circle, Owings Mill, lost control of her Honda Accord while traveling north on Charles Street around 7: 13 a.m. Tuesday and struck a curb near the entrance to Loyola Blakefield High School.

Police said the impact caused a BGE pole to break and fall to the ground, pulling wires tight across the north and southbound lanes of Charles Street.

Police said Perry got out of her car, and while standing near the vehicle, a box truck traveling south struck the low-hanging wires, which then struck Perry, pushing her onto the shoulder of the road.

Baltimore County EMS rushed to the scene and started life-saving measures. Perry was taken to the Greater Baltimore Medical Center, where she was later pronounced dead, police said.

Two other vehicles were damaged from the downed wires. One driver suffered minor injuries, police said.

The crash forced police to close Charles Street from Chestnut Avenue to Kenilworth until around 11 a.m. Tuesday, police said.

Perry was a senior at George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology. School counselors will be available to students for several days.

Anyone suffering an emotional crisis as a result of this loss is encouraged to contact the school for resources at 443-809-2775 or contact the Baltimore County Police Mobile Crisis Hotline at 410-931-2214. For an immediate officer response dial 9-1-1.