Funeral Fund For Wheaton Grad Killed In Crash Established

WHEATON, MD — An online fundraising page has been set up to help a Wheaton family pay for the funeral for their 18-year-old son, who was killed in Wednesday's five-vehicle crash at the intersection of Connecticut Avenue and Dean Road. Yonatan Tedros, a 2017 graduate of Wheaton High School who loved Steph Curry and basketball, is described by friends as a person who could "put a smile on your face even in dull moments."

Tedros, 18, of the 2800 block of Harris Drive in Silver Spring, was taken to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries after the crash, and later died. Tedros was killed while driving his younger brother to school.

A Go Fund Me page has been set up to help the Tedros family with funeral costs.

As of Saturday afternoon, over $17,000 had been raised by 73 people in two days on the Go Fund Me page.

"Blood couldn’t make us any closer," Jordan Reid, 19, told Patch. "He was always supporting me no matter what my decision, even when I was wrong he supported me. He looked up to me and I was like a big brother to him. It’s just sad to see him go to early because I knew he had so much ahead of him."

(Yonatan Tedros and Jordan Reid, via Ried)

Reid met Tedros playing basketball at Albert Einstein Highschool, where Tedros went to school for three years. They hung out just a few days before Tedros' death for Reid's birthday.

Friends told Patch that Tedros was known for his laughter and jokes.

"We talked on the phone almost everyday. Yonatan was the type to just call you and have a conversation," his friend Rebecca, 18, told Patch.

"Yonatan was independent and was a hustler," Rebecca said. "One of the strongest people I knew. He cared heavily for his loved ones and for that we will forever love and miss him dearly."

>> See the Go Fund Me Page here.

Investigators say Tedros' Civic was northbound on Connecticut Avenue approaching Dean Road when a 2009 Nissan Altima tried to turn right from westbound Dean Road onto northbound Connecticut Avenue, and the vehicles collided. After the crash, the Civic crossed the median and struck a 2004 Mazda3 that was attempting to turn left onto Dean Road from southbound Connecticut Avenue.

The impact of the second collision caused the Mazda3 to be pushed into a 2006 Nissan Murano which was stopped behind the Mazda3 and also was attempting to turn left onto Dean Road from southbound Connecticut Avenue. The Murano was then struck by a 2012 Toyota Venza that was southbound on Connecticut Avenue approaching Dean Road.

The driver of the 2009 Nissan Altima — Stephanie Danielle De Witt, 30, of the 1400 block of Tollison Drive in Bowie — was taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The Murano's driver — Analis Cepeda, 33, of the 14000 block of Whispering Pines Court in Silver Spring — was not hurt.

The driver of the 2004 Mazda3 — Sakinatu Marie Seisay, 22, of the 18000 block of Sunhaven Court in Olney— was taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. A passenger in the Seisay's vehicle was also taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

See Also: 5-Vehicle Wheaton Crash Kills Man, Sends 5 To Hospitals

The driver of the 2012 Toyota Venza — Ana Lorena Arevalo Orellana, 41, of the 14000 block of Whispering Pines Court in Silver Spring — was taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

This collision remains under investigation. Anyone who saw the crash or has information about this collision is asked to call the Collision Reconstruction Unit at 240-773-6620.

Photo: Yonatan Tedros via Go Fund Me