Fatal Traffic Accidents

Pedestrian Killed in Tragic Lanham Accident, Police Considering Homicide Charges

September 2, 2015 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Earlier last month in Lanham, Maryland, one man was killed when he was struck by a car that was being operated by a woman whom he was romantically involved with, possibly his wife. According to one local news report, the accident took place on the 9400 block of Washington Boulevard and Seabrook Road. Witnesses on the scene at the time told reporters that it appeared as though the driver of the car targeted the pedestrian.

Evidently, the vehicle was traveling on Seabrook Drive when it suddenly changed its direction of travel and collided with the pedestrian. After the pedestrian was hit, he became airborne and landed next to a tree that was a few feet off the roadway. Witnesses told reporters that the driver of the car then drove up over the curb and into the tree, crushing the man.

Witness accounts differ, but some people say that the woman started screaming that it was her husband and that he had been beating her. Other accounts suggest that she found out that he was being unfaithful. In either event, it seems as though it could have been an intentional act. Police, however, did not immediately determine that the incident was a homicide and instead opened an investigation.

One Minor Killed and Two Others Injured in Mt. Airy Car Accident

August 4, 2015 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Earlier last month, one juvenile was killed and two others injured in a head-on collision in Mt. Airy, Maryland. According to one local news report, the accident occurred at around ten in the morning near the intersection of Md. 27 and Michael Road.

Evidently, the juvenile was a passenger in a vehicle driven by a 29-year-old resident of Taneytown. At some point, that vehicle began to drift out of its lane and into oncoming traffic. As it did so, the vehicle collided head-on with a dump truck heading in the opposite direction.

The minor was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency workers. Both drivers were taken to the hospital as well. The dump truck driver suffered only minor injuries, while the driver of the car in which the minor was a passenger was in critical condition at the time of the article’s publication.

State Trooper in Serious Condition after Roadside Accident on Interstate 95 in Laurel

July 23, 2015 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Earlier this month in Laurel, Maryland, a Maryland State Trooper was seriously injured when he was struck by a passing motorist as he was conducting a traffic stop. According to one local news source, the accident occurred during the afternoon rush hour on Wednesday, July 9.

Evidently, the State Trooper had pulled over a Ford that he believed had invalid license plates. The Ford pulled over on the side of Interstate 95, between Routes 175 and 32. As the Trooper was approaching the vehicle, a Mercury traveling down I-95 left its lane of travel and struck the Trooper’s vehicle.

Once struck by the Mercury, the Trooper’s vehicle then struck the Ford, which struck the Trooper and sent him over the guardrail. The Trooper was flown to University of Maryland Shock Trauma in Baltimore. The driver of the Mercury and the Ford were also taken to a nearby hospital and are expected to fully recover from their injuries.

32-Year-Old Pedestrian Killed in D.C. Hit-and-Run Accident

July 16, 2015 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Earlier this month in Washington, D.C., a woman was killed as she was standing next to her disabled vehicle on the Suitland Parkway. According to one local news report, the woman was struck by an eastbound pick-up truck at around 10:15 in the evening as she was standing on the south side of the Suitland Parkway. The driver of the truck failed to stop and see if the woman needed medical attention.

Evidently, the driver of the truck continued eastbound for a short while before rear-ending another vehicle and then crashing into a light pole. Once his vehicle was disabled, police were able to catch up to the driver and arrest him.

The pedestrian who was hit by the truck was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency responders. The cause of death was listed as massive body trauma. The driver of the pick-up truck sustained minor injuries and is expected to make a full recovery. Police arrested the driver and charged him with second-degree murder as well as with fleeing the scene of an accident resulting in death. Police believe that the man was speeding at the time of the accident.

Route 404 Accident Results in the Death of One Man

July 9, 2015 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Earlier this month in Easton, one man was killed in a two-car accident on Route 404, near the area of Owens Road and US Route 50. According to one local news report, the fatal accident took place around 8:20 in the evening on July 5.

Evidently, a Buick was making a turn onto Route 404 from Owens Road when it was struck by a southbound BMW. The collision involved such force that the Buick essentially broke into pieces and caught fire. The BMW ultimately came to a rest upside-down in a nearby ditch. The driver of the BMW and his passenger were both taken to nearby hospitals, but the driver of the Buick was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency workers.

Police are conducting an investigation into the accident in hopes of learning more about what may have caused the fatal accident. No citations have been issued yet, but that may change as the investigation is concluded.

Upper Marlboro Man Found Guilty of Son’s Death in Reckless Driving Accident

June 17, 2015 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Earlier this month in Upper Marlboro, a man who was charged with motor-vehicle manslaughter in relation to an accident that resulted in his son’s death was found guilty and will be sentenced later this year in August. According to one local news report, the man was originally charged with driving under the influence of PCP, but the jury determined that the prosecution failed to prove that crime beyond a reasonable doubt and convicted him only under the motor-vehicle manslaughter charges.

Evidently, the fatal accident occurred on May 9, 2013, when the man charged above lost control of his vehicle. According to court documents, the man was heading south on Bladensburg Road at a high rate of speed. As he attempted to change lanes, he veered across the center line and into oncoming traffic. As he lost control, his vehicle crashed into several other vehicles before colliding with two utility poles, a tree, and ultimately a retaining wall.

In the car at the time of the accident was the man’s son as well as his girlfriend’s daughter. His girlfriend’s daughter sustained minor injuries but recovered. However, the man’s son was not secured in a car seat at the time of the accident and was ejected from the vehicle upon impact. The four-year-old boy died as a result of the injuries he sustained. The driver was also ejected and suffered life-threatening injuries, although he has since recovered.

Two Killed on Ritchie Highway in Fatal Arnold Accident

May 12, 2015 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Earlier this month in Arnold, Maryland, two people lost their lives when they were involved in an accident with a semi-truck. According to one local news report, the accident took place around 7:30 in the evening on Ritchie Highway.

Evidently, the driver of the car that was ultimately hit was attempting to make a left-hand turn on to College Parkway when he entered the path of a truck that was traveling straight in the oncoming lane of traffic. As the car crossed the truck’s path, the truck struck the car, sending it into a nearby light pole where it eventually came to a rest.

Sadly, the driver of the car was pronounced dead at the scene. The passenger was taken to Maryland Shock Trauma of Baltimore, where he passed away a short time later. The driver of the truck did not sustain any serious injuries. The cause of the accident remains unknown, and police are conducting an investigation into the accident to see what may have caused the tragic accident.

Nanjemoy DUI Accident Claims the Life of Volunteer Fire Fighter

May 5, 2015 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Earlier this month in Nanjemoy, Maryland, one woman was killed in a traffic accident when another driver veered over the center line, colliding head-on with the woman’s car. According to a recent news report, the woman was both from Nanjemoy and a member of the Nanjemoy Volunteer Fire Department for the past five years.

Evidently, the volunteer fire fighter was traveling southbound on Maryland Route 425 just after 9:00 pm. At some point, a northbound Chevy Silverado inexplicably crossed over into her lane and collided with her vehicle head-on. The woman was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. The driver of the Silverado was taken to the hospital, although his injuries were much less serious and he is expected to make a full recovery.

Police told reporters that the driver of the Silverado failed to stay in his lane and crossed over the center line. They also told reporters that they believe alcohol played a role in the fatal accident. Charges against the driver of the Silverado are still pending.

Maryland Driver Charged for Murder After Passenger Dies in a Drunk Driving Accident

April 9, 2015 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Earlier this month, a Maryland man was arrested and charged with murder for his role in the drunk driving death of a passenger after he was involved in a DUI accident. According to a recent Washington Post article, the driver admitted to police that he had consumed at least two beers and a shot of cognac before getting behind the wheel that fateful night.

Evidently, the accident occurred on a road with a speed limit of just 25 miles per hour, but police claim that the driver was traveling well in excess of that speed when he slammed into a parked tractor-trailer. After crashing into the parked truck, the driver got out of his vehicle and pulled out his unconscious passenger by her arms. He began to shake her until another passenger in his car told him to stop. At this point, he dropped her, and she hit her head on the pavement.

The woman was taken to the hospital, where she died about a half-hour later. Prosecutors charged the driver with second-degree murder, claiming that the driver acted “with the intent to kill another . . . and with a conscious disregard of an extreme risk of death or serious bodily injury to another.”

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.