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A Gaithersburg teenager died Monday morning of injuries he suffered in a car crash, becoming the 27th traffic collision fatality in Montgomery County this year.

That is more than double the number killed in the same period last year. Thirteen people died in crashes between January 1 and June 28, 2009, police said.

Justin Xavier Dorsey, 17, was pronounced dead at 6:01 a.m. at the Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.C., a day after he was a passenger in a car involved in a crash in Darnestown.

Montgomery County Police spokesman Cpl. Dan Friz said Dorsey was flown to the hospital Sunday in critical condition.

Dorsey was riding in a gold 2002 Toyota Echo traveling west in the 15500 block of River Road at about 5:50 p.m. Sunday when the car crossed into the eastbound lane, Friz said. Dorsey was not wearing a seatbelt, Friz said.

The Echo, driven by 17-year-old Ryan Sparks of Gaithersburg, hit an oncoming 2009 Mercedes C63 driven by Daniel Peter Schwartz, 31, of Burke, Va. Friz could not say if alcohol was a factor, but noted that the crash is still being investigated.

Sparks was driving on a valid provisional license, according to Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration spokeswoman Caryn Coyle. New Maryland drivers must maintain a conviction-free provisional license for 18 months before they can apply for a full license, Coyle said.

During the first five months, provisional license holders under 18 are not allowed to have passengers younger than 18 years of age unless accompanied by a qualified supervising driver or the passengers are immediate family members, Coyle said.

Sparks, who received his provisional license on Feb. 22, is still within the five month window, Coyle said.

Three of Sparks' passengers, including Dorsey, were under 18. Eric Hahn, of Gaithersburg, was the only person in the car 18 or older.

The voicemail at Sparks' Gaithersburg home was full Tuesday and phone numbers for Dorsey and Schwartz could not be found.

"We're not sure where Mr. Dorsey was seated in the car, but we know there were five teens in the car," Friz said by phone Monday. "We're not sure what caused the car to swerve into oncoming traffic at this time but we are actively investigating."

The four other teens, including Schwartz, were taken to hospitals with non-life threatening injuries, Friz said.

In 2009, Montgomery County Police investigated 36 fatal car crashes. Through June 28, 2010, the county

has seen 27 fatal car crashes, according to Montgomery County police.

2009 = 36 fatal crashes (total)

-13 single vehicle

-14 pedestrian

-7 multiple vehicles

-1 bicyclist

-1 motorcyclist

2010 so far = 27 fatal crashes (total)

-10 single vehicle

-7 pedestrian

-5 multiple vehicles

-1 bicyclist

-4 motorcyclists