NANJEMOY, Maryland — A tragic late-night collision on Maryland Route 224 has left a community mourning the loss of 19-year-old James Thomas Claggett, who died following a head-on minibike crash that also left a 16-year-old seriously injured.
The crash occurred on Monday, June 15, 2026, at approximately 11:21 p.m. near Wilson Landing Road. According to the Maryland State Police, two minibikes were traveling in opposite directions when they collided head-on under circumstances that remain under investigation.
Troopers from the Maryland State Police La Plata Barrack, alongside deputies from the Charles County Sheriff’s Office, responded to the scene after emergency calls reported a serious crash involving multiple injuries. Due to the severity of the incident, an Advanced Collision Investigator was called to take over the investigation.
Preliminary findings indicate that a 2021 minibike operated by a 16-year-old male from Nanjemoy was traveling southbound on Maryland Route 224 when it collided head-on with a 2018 minibike operated by James Thomas Claggett, also of Nanjemoy.
Both riders suffered critical injuries and were airlifted from the scene. The 16-year-old was transported by Maryland State Police Aviation Command Trooper 7 to University of Maryland Capital Region Medical Center for emergency treatment. James Thomas Claggett was flown by Trooper 2 to MedStar Washington Hospital Center, where he was later pronounced deceased.
Authorities confirmed that neither operator was wearing a helmet at the time of the collision. Investigators also noted that both minibikes were unregistered and lacked headlamps, factors believed to have contributed to the severity of the crash and reduced visibility on the roadway.
The investigation remains ongoing, and officials say the findings will be forwarded to the Charles County State’s Attorney’s Office for review regarding possible charges.
As friends, family, and community members in Nanjemoy and surrounding areas come to terms with this sudden loss, James Thomas Claggett is being remembered with deep sorrow. His passing has left an undeniable void among those who knew him, and his memory now lives on in the hearts of loved ones struggling to process the tragedy.
Authorities continue to ask anyone with information about the crash to contact TFC Ashley Sabock at the Maryland State Police La Plata Barrack at (301) 392-1200, case number 26-MSP-019288.








