Fatal Traffic Accidents

I-495 Car Accident Causes One Fatality, Drowsy Driving Suspected

April 2, 2015 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Late last month, a 47-year-old woman was killed when she lost control of her car on the Beltway. According to a prominent national news report, the woman was driving on Interstate 495 in Capitol Heights when the accident occurred. Maryland State Police were called to the scene of the accident at around 3:45 a.m.

A preliminary investigation revealed that the woman’s Dodge Avenger was traveling south on I-495 when she crossed three lanes of traffic and veered off the road. She proceeded to hit a safety rail before coming to a stop. Unfortunately, the woman was pronounced deceased at the scene of the accident. The Maryland State Police believe that fatigue could have played a role in the accident. However, the crash is still under investigation by Maryland State Police.

Risks Associated with Fatigued Driving

The above case was incredibly tragic because someone lost their life, but it could have been much worse. In many highway accidents, there are multiple cars involved, increasing the number of victims. Fatigued driving is a serious problem and can result in severe injuries and even death. The effects of drowsy driving often mirror the effects of alcohol and other substances. It can decrease awareness, lower reaction times, and impair vision and judgment.

Head-On Crash in Poolesville Claims the Life of One Adamstown Resident

March 17, 2015 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Earlier this month in Poolesville, Maryland, a head-on collision claimed one woman’s life and injured several others. According to a report by one local Maryland news source, the accident was caused when a pick-up truck veered out of its lane and into oncoming traffic, ultimately hitting the car the victim was driving.

Evidently, around 7:40 in the morning, a Ford F-250 truck was driving on the 20700 block of Darnestown Road when it began to creep into oncoming traffic. As it crossed the center median line, it collided with a Subaru Forester. After the initial collision, the pick-up truck rolled several times, crashing into a Kia Sorento. A fourth vehicle was also involved when it was hit by some flying debris from the previous collision.

The driver of the Subaru that was hit head on by the truck was taken to a nearby hospital, but later succumbed to her injuries. The driver of the pick-up truck was also taken to the hospital, although with non-life-threatening injuries.

Pedestrian Killed in Hit-and-Run Accident in Elkridge

February 10, 2015 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Earlier this month in Elkridge, Maryland, a pedestrian was killed after she was hit not once but twice by passing motorists. According to a report by the Baltimore Sun, the woman was walking on U.S. 1 around 4:40 in the morning when she was first struck by a 2002 Toyota SUV heading northbound.

That driver immediately pulled off to the side of the road to assist the pedestrian. However, before he could get to her, another passing car ran over the woman, who was still in the roadway. The first driver, who has been cooperating with police, told police that the second vehicle was a dark colored SUV.

The woman was pronounced dead by emergency responders shortly after their arrival. Authorities are refraining from disclosing her identity until they are able to notify her next-of-kin.

Car Wreck on Ice-Covered I-95 Kills One

February 3, 2015 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Earlier this month on Interstate 95, a massive pile-up accident claimed the life of a Staten Island rabbi on his way to a religious event. According to a report by one local news source, the accident occurred near the Baltimore-Howard County line. The accident itself actually took place in Harford County, near the intersection of Route 23 and High Point Road.

Evidently, a band of freezing rain crept in and created extremely slippery conditions on the roadway. At around 7:30 in the morning, a Honda CRV was traveling westbound on Route 23 when it lost control and crossed the median. The CRV collided with an eastbound vehicle.

The man in the back seat of the CRV was pronounced dead shortly after emergency workers responded to the scene. He was a prominent rabbi in the New York City area. The driver and front-seat passenger of the CRV were also taken to the hospital, although with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the other vehicle, as well as the passenger, were both taken to the hospital with injuries.

Deer in Roadway Causes Fatal Accident in Salisbury

January 26, 2015 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Earlier this month in Salisbury, Maryland, a driver collided with a deer, resulting in a fatal accident that claimed one woman’s life and injured another. According to one local news report, the accident occurred on Nanticoke Road in Salisbury at around 6:35 in the evening.

Evidently, the driver of a Nissan Altima was heading westbound on Salisbury Road when she struck a deer. The deer went airborne and crashed into the front windshield of an oncoming vehicle. The deer actually went through the front windshield and hit the driver, who was thrown from the vehicle. She was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency workers. The cause of death was listed as a fatal head injury. It appears that she was not wearing her seatbelt at the time of the accident.

The driver of the Altima, the car that initially struck the deer, was taken to Peninsula Regional Medical Center, where she was treated for minor injuries and released later that evening. Police have declined to press any charges in relation to the fatal accident.

Uninsured Driver Convicted for Maryland Girl’s Death

January 19, 2015 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Earlier this month, a West Virginia woman was convicted of driving without a license after she caused a fatal accident that took the life of a five-year-old Maryland girl. According to one local news report, the woman claimed that she was unaware that her license had lapsed. However, at trial, on cross-examination it came out that her license was revoked due to several previous citations and accidents.

Evidently, the woman rear-ended a car driven by the young girl’s great-grandmother on Route 67 in Washington County. The girl was in the back seat, as is recommended. However, she tragically died as a result of the injuries she sustained in the accident.

The woman faced criminal charges relating to her decision to drive without insurance. Just last week, the criminal case against the driver ended in a conviction. The woman’s sentencing will be coming up in the next month or so. However, she faces up to a year in prison. She was also issued two traffic violations and fined $410.

Maryland Man Killed as He Gets Out of His Vehicle on Route 50

January 12, 2015 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Earlier this week in Annapolis, a local Marylander was killed when he got out of his disabled vehicle on Route 50. According to a local news report, the man lost control of his car, and it spun out into the center median around 2:15 in the morning. As he got out of the car, he was struck by another passing motorist driving an SUV.

The man was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency responders. While the cause of the initial accident remains unknown, officials surmise that it had to do with the icy road conditions at the time. In fact, there were safety warnings in place at the time of the accident due to the inclement conditions.

Another potential factor, police told reporters, was the fact that there are no overhead lights on the portion of highway where the accident occurred, making it all the more difficult to see a patch of black ice. It also may have contributed to the SUV driver’s inability to see the man and his disabled vehicle.

Head-On Collision in Smithsburg Kills One Driver

January 5, 2015 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Earlier this month in Smithsburg, a two-vehicle head-on collision took the life of one man when his car crossed the center median and collided with a dump truck. According to one local news report, the accident occurred on Mapleville Road, where the driver of a Ford SUV was heading southbound. The driver of the dump truck was heading northbound.

Evidently, around 4:30 in the afternoon the SUV crossed over into the lane of oncoming traffic, colliding head on with the dump truck. The collision caused the Ford to overturn. The driver of the SUV was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the dump truck was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

An investigation was still underway at the time of the article’s publication, but it does not seem that the driver of the dump truck will face any criminal charges. It is unclear what caused the SUV to drift over into oncoming traffic.

Carjacking Results in Fatal Ambulance Crash

December 23, 2014 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Earlier this month in Greenbelt, one man was killed after a carjacking resulted in a multi-vehicle accident on the Capital Beltway. According to one local news report, the accident occurred after a man carjacked an ambulance on the 6200 block of Greenbelt Road.

Evidently, the man was involved in a separate and unrelated car accident that required an ambulance. When the ambulance arrived, the man hopped in and drove off, but not before assaulting the crew. After driving off, the driver navigated the ambulance off the Beltway, crashing into three occupied vehicles along the way. After getting off the Beltway, the stolen ambulance crashed into a total of nine other vehicles before rolling over in a restaurant parking lot.

Sadly, the driver of a Mercedes that was hit by the carjacked ambulance was killed as a result of the accident. His passenger was taken to the hospital with serious injuries but is expected to recover. The driver of the stolen ambulance was taken to the hospital with serious injuries as well. He has been arrested and charged with various crimes, including armed carjacking. It is unclear what additional charges he may face for the death of the man.

Chesapeake Beach Man Killed in U-Turn Accident

December 16, 2014 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Earlier this week, one man was killed and another two people injured in a U-turn accident in Sunderland, Maryland. According to one local news report, the accident occurred on 6200 North Solomons Island Road just after 5:30 in the afternoon.

Evidently, the driver of a Dodge Dakota was traveling southbound when a Ford truck that was heading northbound attempted to make a U-turn in front of the Dodge. The Dodge crashed into the rear-passenger side of the Ford truck as it was completing its turn. Both vehicles ended up on the road’s shoulder.

The driver and passenger in the Ford truck both suffered minor injuries, and they are expected to fully recover. However, the driver of the Dodge suffered more serious injuries that he eventually succumbed to. He was pronounced dead later on that day. He was not wearing a seatbelt, according to authorities.