Articles Posted in Motor Vehicle Accidents

Across the state of Maryland, many businesses, public gathering places and government buildings remain closed. Residents continue to do their best to adhere to all the guidelines set forth to curb the pandemic, but people must still venture out to get necessities, provide service at an essential business or seek medical attention. Police warn that, even though the roads are far less crowded these days, incidents of dangerous driving are on the rise. 

According to law enforcement officials, police have confirmed an increase in traffic offenses like speeding, drunk driving, distracted driving and other dangerous behavior. Residents have also come forward to recount recent incidents in which another driver has sped past them or cut them off. Some say they are hesitant to go out even for essentials due to the increased risk of a serious accident.

In the span of one weekend, Maryland police had to issue over 400 citations for speeding alone. To illustrate the growing concern, one officer said that he stopped a driver who was going over 100 mph on the highway and was able to confirm that the driver was drunk. When an accident occurs at a high rate of speed, there is an increased potential for serious injury or death.

Statewide shutdowns and unseasonably cold weather has many Maryland residents feeling a bit cooped up. Recently, some businesses have begun to reopen, and people are excited to venture out with friends and family. Unfortunately, not everyone is making safety a priority, and one driver’s drunk driving accident injured or killed everyone in his vehicle. 

Maryland police arrived at the scene of a crash and began trying to determine why a single vehicle left the roadway and sustained heavy damage. Initial investigation determined that the vehicle was occupied by four adults. The two people in the back seat were killed, while the driver and front passenger suffered mild injuries. 

After gathering witness testimony and making contact with the driver, police say they believe drugs and alcohol played a role in the crash. Driver error and speed also contributed to the accident. As the investigation continues, police may decide to file criminal charges against the allegedly intoxicated driver. 

Maryland kids are still unable to attend school or participate in most extracurricular activities. Families may be starting to feel a little stir crazy, and it’s a blessing when the weather is nice and kids can go outside for some fresh air. Even with the state’s social distancing guidelines and the closure of parks and recreational areas, kids can still ride bikes, take walks and spend time out of doors. Unfortunately, a hoverboard ride resulted in the death of a local child, resulting in an accident investigation. 

Initial reports say that a 16-year-old girl was riding a hoverboard in Hagerstown. As she came to an intersection, she was struck by a dump truck leaving a local construction site. She was pronounced dead at the scene. 

An accident investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the accident. The truck was owned and operated by the city’s Department of Public Works. Law enforcement has confirmed that a city construction crew was working at a site nearby when the crash occurred. More details will be released in the coming weeks, and it is currently unknown if the dump truck operator will face criminal charges. 

Even though Maryland residents are not out and about much these days, it is important to remain vigilant behind the wheel. While residents have been advised to stay home unless they must venture out for work or an essential errand, drivers must resist the urge to check news feeds and messages behind the wheel. A distracted driver can cause serious injury or death in the blink of an eye. 

Usually, a national campaign to educate citizens about the dangers of distracted driving kicks off in April. Though this year’s campaign was not officially cancelled, it is not getting as much attention as it has in the past. Experts warn this is all the more reason to use extra caution on the road. 

According to the National Road Safety Foundation, even people who know distracted driving is dangerous may not be aware of exactly what the phrase means. Most people know that using a smartphone or other handheld device can cause a crash, but not realize that distracted driving includes other things like buckling a seat belt, eating, or reaching for a bag. The NRSF has provided tips, educational videos and even a quiz to help drivers learn more about the ever-growing risk. 

Motorists across the nation, including Maryland, risk their lives each day. Defensive driving is crucial as they navigate their vehicles in traffic that almost always includes drivers who are distracted by their smartphones or impaired by medication, drugs or alcohol. The ability to recognize a drunk driver might be the best way to avoid a wreck, and by reporting them, other motorists might also escape the hazards posed by impaired drivers.

Being alert and looking out for telltale impairment signs is the way to go. These include drivers who drift, swerve or weave through the traffic, or those who tailgate other vehicles. Someone who drives on the wrong side or in the middle of the road will likely be under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and erratic braking and accelerations are also red flags.

Impaired drivers may forget to turn on their headlights when they drive at night, and they often drive slowly in an attempt to avoid being noticed. Some drunk drivers are slow to react to traffic signals, and they typically make unnecessarily wide turns. When someone drives with his or her face almost up against the windshield, it is a sure sign that he or she is impaired enough to see double.

Motorcycles run in the blood of Maryland, which is not surprising. The state offers such scenic landscapes that riders can have a good time in virtually any season. A new generation of motorcyclists is embracing the lifestyle, but for one young rider, a terrible crash has warranted an accident investigation. 

Preliminary reports indicate that a 17-year-old Maryland resident was driving a motorcycle on Route 108 near Clarksville. A passenger car began to make a left turn and ended up colliding with the motorcycle. The person in the car suffered no injuries, but the young man on the Harley Davidson was not so lucky. 

The teen suffered injuries so severe he had to be taken by helicopter to a renowned shock trauma center across the state. He is currently in critical condition, and while doctors try to save his life, police have launched an accident investigation to find out more about the collision that nearly killed him. It is not certain if he will be able to recover from his injuries or if he will even survive. 

The Beltway connects Maryland to Washington, D.C. and surrounding states. Each day thousands of cars travel the highway’s stretches and loops, as the Beltway is often the most direct route for area destinations. The consistently heavy traffic, which routinely includes rush hour traffic jams, naturally has an increased risk for accidents. Recently, a collision that resulted in serious injury was caused by a driver who went the wrong way. 

The Maryland State Police say that a driver was going the wrong way on the Outer Loop of the Beltway just before 5 a.m. The motorist crashed into another car that was traveling in the correct direction. Upon impact, both vehicles caught fire. Preliminary information from the scene revealed that at least one person was trapped in a vehicle and at least three victims suffered serious injury. 

Authorities had to divert traffic as they investigated. It is not yet known why the driver deemed at fault wound up going the wrong way. It was noted that traffic was not particularly heavy at the time, and there were no extenuating circumstances noted, such as limited visibility due to weather, that could have contributed to the driver’s actions. 

Two men are dead following a single-vehicle accident in Maryland, according to local sources. The Baltimore Police Department responded to a call in the morning of Dec. 29. Officers are now investigating the car accident, trying to determine a cause for the crash. Given the driver died in the accident, no criminal charges will be forthcoming. 

According to the accident report, it appears that sometime in the early morning of Dec. 29, a vehicle driven by a 28-year-old man and carrying a 30-year-old man was traveling on W. Northern Parkway when the accident occurred. For reasons that have yet to be determined, the vehicle crossed over Liberty Heights Avenue before leaving the road and striking a tree. Officers received a call as early as 7:45 a.m. but were unable to locate the crashed vehicle for another hour. 

Both individuals in the vehicle were rushed to local hospitals for treatment, but both were later pronounced dead. Police are unsure of the cause of this accident, as they are still trying to determine at what time the crash actually occurred. They have asked for the support of the community in coming to conclusions about how and why the accident happened. 

Maryland drivers have been taught to keep an eye out for school buses. When a driver fails to obey the laws about making a proper stop for a bus, there are stiff penalties in place because a child may be injured or killed as he or she gets on or off the bus. The bus driver is responsible for making sure the bus’ stop sign is deployed and lights are flashing until all children are safely out of the street. A recent accident may indicate that a local child was the victim of a distracted driver. 

According to preliminary reports, a school bus was driving through a residential area, making frequent stops to let children off of the bus after school. At one stop, the driver let several children off the bus, and the bus driver pulled away to head to the next stop. The driver may have become distracted because the daily routine quickly turned tragic. 

A 9-year-old girl was struck and killed by the bus. Police have launched an investigation and are asking for any available information from witnesses. It is unclear why the bus driver hit the child, but it is confirmed that the child was struck in the roadway. Rescue workers rushed the girl to a nearby hospital for treatment of life threatening injuries, but she was later pronounced dead. 

The approaching holidays mean that many more people will travel for varying reasons. This unfortunately also means that car accidents will be on the rise in some areas. When they prove fatal, they can be devastating to the surviving loved ones of the victim, especially at a time of year that is meant to be joyous. This is what one Maryland family is likely experiencing after the death of one man due to an accident that, according to law enforcement, may have been due to a drunk driver.

Authorities say that the collision happened on a recent late evening. One man was driving northbound when his car apparently crossed over into southbound traffic. His car then struck another vehicle head-on. When first responders arrived, both drivers were unconscious. The southbound driver was extricated from his vehicle quickly and emergency personnel worked to save his life, but he was pronounced dead.

The northbound driver was extricated only a few minutes after the first and was airlifted to a nearby hospital. Police say they now have reason to believe that alcohol was a factor in the crash. They are still investigating the crash and say that charges will depend upon their findings.