Salisbury, MD — February 11, 2026, Matthew Garcia was killed and Andy Fon Koh and Eyuael Zewdie were injured in a single-car accident at about 8:40 p.m. on South Division Street.
Authorities said a Honda Civic apparently ran a stop sign before hitting a guardrail and landing in Coulbourn Mill Pond, sinking into the water.
Emergency personnel arrived to find one of the vehicle’s occupants on top of the vehicle, while two others were trapped inside, according to authorities. Divers were able to rescue all three of them.
The man believed to be the driver of the car, 18-year-old Matthew Garcia, died after being flown to a local trauma center, authorities said.
The other two men in the car, 19-year-olds Andy Fon Koh and Eyuael Zewdie, were hospitalized with unspecified injuries, according to authorities.
All three men were students at Salisbury University.
Authorities have not released any additional information about the Wicomico County crash at this time.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
Serious crashes leave behind more than damaged vehicles. They raise hard questions about what really happened in the moments leading up to impact, and whether anyone has taken the time to look closely enough. When the facts are still developing, those questions matter even more.
Did the authorities thoroughly investigate the crash? In any single-vehicle crash, it’s easy to assume the basic outline tells the whole story. But a proper investigation goes far beyond noting that a car left the roadway. Investigators should document the scene with detailed measurements, photograph and map the vehicle’s final position and reconstruct its path step by step. That can include laser mapping, reviewing skid marks, checking for steering input and determining whether braking occurred before impact.
It also means taking a close look at the driver’s actions in the minutes leading up to the crash. Was there any sign of evasive maneuvering? Did something change suddenly inside the vehicle? The depth of that work often depends on the training and experience of the officers involved. Some departments have reconstruction specialists with advanced tools. Others may only conduct a surface-level review. The difference can shape how clearly the truth comes into focus.
Has anyone looked into the possibility that a vehicle defect caused the crash? When a car behaves in a way that doesn’t make sense, mechanical failure should always be on the table. Brake problems, steering issues, electronic throttle glitches or sensor malfunctions can cause sudden and unexpected loss of control. These issues are not always visible to the naked eye, especially after a crash involving water.
A thorough mechanical inspection is critical. That includes examining the braking system, steering components, onboard safety systems and any warning lights that may have been active. Modern vehicles are complex machines. Without a careful inspection by qualified experts, a hidden defect can be overlooked.
Has all the electronic data relating to the crash been collected? Today’s vehicles record a surprising amount of information. Engine control modules can show speed, throttle position, braking and seatbelt use in the seconds before impact. That data can confirm or challenge assumptions about what happened.
Beyond the car itself, phones, GPS history and nearby surveillance footage may provide additional insight. In a case where details are limited, electronic evidence often fills in the gaps. But that data must be preserved quickly. Once lost, it cannot be recreated.
When a crash results in loss of life and serious injury, the search for answers should not stop at the surface. Careful reconstruction, mechanical review and electronic data collection are not extra steps; they are essential ones. Only by asking deeper questions can we be confident that the full picture has been uncovered.
Key Takeaways:
- A full crash reconstruction should go beyond basic scene notes and examine the vehicle’s movements and driver actions.
- Mechanical failures can play a role in single-car crashes and require detailed inspection.
- Electronic data from the vehicle and other devices can provide clear, objective answers about what happened.
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