Twenty-year-old Hunter Watson of McLean was pronounced dead on the scene when the 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee he was riding in collided with a pickup truck north of Dover, Delaware, on Saturday, June 18. The truck hit the passenger side, and Watson was in the passenger seat. According to police, the driver, 20-year-old Rod Zarafshar, failed to stop at a stop sign. Zarafshar was airlifted to Christiana Medical Center and admitted with undetermined injuries. Alcohol does not appear to be a factor, and both Watson and Zarafshar were wearing seatbelts, police said. Both Watson and Zarafshar graduated in the class of 2014 at The Potomac School in McLean.
The Head of The Potomac School, John Kowalik, released the following statement:
“Everyone in the Potomac School community was deeply saddened to learn of Hunter Watson’s death. Hunter attended Potomac from kindergarten through 12th grade, graduating in 2014. He is remembered on campus as a charismatic and personable young man with a great sense of humor. A bright, creative individual, Hunter contributed to our school both in and outside the classroom. Hunter is also remembered as a person who cared deeply about his friends; he was well liked, and he will be missed.”