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UPDATED: Reportedly abducted child dies after police pursuit, crash on I-495

By Angela Woolsey
Northbound I-495 is closed at the Branch Avenue exit in Camp Springs, Maryland after a police pursuit and crash (via Google Maps)

A 1-year-old girl died today (Thursday) following a police pursuit that started on I-95 in Franconia ended with a crash in Prince George’s County, Maryland.

According to the Virginia State Police, troopers attempted to stop a vehicle headed north on I-95 near the South Van Dorn Street exit at approximately 8:46 a.m. today (Thursday).

“The vehicle refused to stop and a pursuit was initiated,” the VSP said in a news release at 10:28 a.m. “The vehicle continued north on I-495 into Maryland, where the driver lost control and crashed near Exit 7.”

The crash closed northbound I-495 at Exit 7 to Route 5 (Branch Avenue) in Camp Springs, Maryland. Maryland State Police said the driver and three children were “transported from the scene to area hospitals.”

One of the children, 1-year-old Zariyah Plummer, died from her injuries at the hospital, the Virginia Beach Police Department (VBPD) reported.

“Our hearts go out to the family and loved ones who are grieving this morning,” Virginia Beach Police Chief Paul Neudigate said. “This is an unimaginable tragedy, and on behalf of the VBPD, I extend our deepest sympathies to those affected by this loss.”

Zariyah and her brothers, aged 5 and 7 years old, were abducted in Virginia Beach by their father, Dana Demetrius Plummer, 36, the VBPD said in a news release.

According to the VBPD, its emergency communications services got a call around 8:48 p.m. yesterday (Wednesday) for a stabbing in the 900 block of Jay Are Court. When officers arrived, they found a woman and a girl “suffering from multiple stab wounds.”

The woman — who has been identified by the police as the children’s mother — and the girl were taken to the hospitals and are currently in stable condition, the VBPD said.

The Virginia State Police issued an Amber Alert shortly after 2 a.m. at the VBPD’s request. A citizen who recognized the vehicle from the alert reported it to the state police.

In a 2:47 p.m. update, the VSP identified the vehicle as a black 2024 Honda Passport SUV, stating that it authorized troopers to continue the vehicle pursuit into Maryland because of the abduction charge against Plummer.

“At no time did any Virginia State Police vehicles make contact with the Honda,” the VSP said.

Plummer has been charged by the VBPD with two counts of aggravated malicious wounding, three counts of parental abduction, four counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and domestic assault.

“This case remains under investigation,” the VBPD said.

About the Author

  • Angela Woolsey is the site editor for FFXnow. A graduate of George Mason University, she worked as a general assignment reporter for the Fairfax County Times before joining Local News Now as the Tysons Reporter editor in 2020.