Executive Summary
- Vipa Sankanung, 87, died following a pedestrian collision in November in Rockville.
- Montgomery County Police were only recently notified of the fatality despite an initial response by Rockville City Police.
- The crash involved a Honda Pilot turning left at the intersection of East Jefferson Street and Rollins Avenue.
Montgomery County Police have initiated an investigation into the death of an 87-year-old woman following a vehicle collision in November, acknowledging that the department was only recently notified of the fatality despite an initial police response at the scene.
According to a statement released by the Montgomery County Police Department, the victim, identified as Vipa Sankanung of Rockville, was struck by a vehicle shortly before 3:00 p.m. at the intersection of East Jefferson Street and Rollins Avenue. Investigators determined that Sankanung was walking north across Rollins Avenue when a Honda Pilot, turning left from southbound East Jefferson Street, collided with her.
Rockville City Police officers were the initial responders to the incident in November. The driver of the Honda Pilot remained at the scene and cooperated with authorities. However, Montgomery County Police, who hold jurisdiction over fatal collision investigations within the county, stated they only learned of the death “recently.” Rockville police officials did not immediately respond to inquiries regarding the reason for the delay in transferring the case to county investigators.
Investigative Protocols and Oversight
The delay in notifying the Montgomery County Police Department regarding a fatality investigation highlights potential lapses in inter-agency communication protocols between municipal and county law enforcement. Timely notification is critical in collision reconstruction, as it ensures the preservation of physical evidence and allows specialized units to document scene conditions immediately. As the investigation moves forward retroactively, authorities will likely focus on corroborating initial reports with available physical evidence to determine the precise cause of the collision and address the procedural gap that delayed the involvement of the fatality unit.
