Maryland State Police are investigating a two-vehicle crash that killed a mother and daughter Saturday night on I-270 in Montgomery County.
Investigators believe impairment may have been a contributing factor in the crash.
The victims have been identified as Musammat Shamima Begum, 46, and her daughter, Areebah Jahin, 23, of Burke and Alexandria, Virginia. Both were passengers in a Toyota Camry involved in the crash.
At approximately 6:46 pm, troopers from the Maryland State Police Rockville Barrack responded to southbound I-270 just south of Democracy Boulevard for a reported two-vehicle crash.
According to the preliminary investigation, a Ford Mustang was traveling northbound in the southbound lanes of I-270 when it collided head-on with the Toyota.
The driver of the Toyota, a 62-year-old man, and an 8-year-old girl who was also a passenger were transported by ambulance to local hospitals for treatment of their injuries.
Police identified the driver and sole occupant of the Mustang as Jose Caballero Nolasco, 32, of Germantown. He was also transported to a local hospital for treatment of his injuries and has since been released.
Nolasco is charged with two counts of gross negligent manslaughter, two counts of homicide by motor vehicle while impaired by alcohol and one count of life-threatening injury by motor vehicle. He was transported to the Montgomery County Detention Center, where he is awaiting an appearance before a court commissioner.
The southbound lanes were closed for approximately five hours as investigators worked at the scene. The Maryland State Police Crash Team continues to lead the active and ongoing investigation.
