Rodney Cornell McMillan of Upper Marlboro was pronounced dead at an area hospital on April 1, county police department spokesman Cpl. Clinton Copeland said. Copeland said the nature and extent of McMillan's injuries were unknown.

Police believe speed was a factor in the crash, although Copeland said he did not know how fast the car was traveling at the time of the accident.

At approximately 3 p.m. March 26, McMillan was driving eastbound on Lords Landing Road in a 2004 Honda Accord with two 16-year-old passengers, a male and a female whose identities have not been released. Copeland said the male is from Riverdale and the female is from Upper Marlboro.

The car left the road and crashed into a tree, according to police.

McMillan suffered severe trauma and was evacuated by helicopter to a local hospital, police reported at the time. The two passengers were taken to a local hospital for injuries, but they are expected to survive, Copeland said.

"Unfortunately, a lot of young people have a tendency to think they have an idea of how fast these cars are or how they're handled," Copeland said. "It's just a matter of being cautious and following the rules of the road."

McMillan is listed as a member of the varsity football team at Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr. High School in Upper Marlboro. According to the team roster, he is a junior at the school, but no one at the school could be reached by deadline.

E-mail Zoe Tillman at ztillman@gazette.net.