Fatal I-97 Crash Brings Drunk-Driving Charge For Victim's Friend

ANNAPOLIS, MD — A man who tried to cross Interstate 97 to check on a friend who appeared to have trouble driving was fatally struck by another driver on the highway, Maryland State Police said in a news release.

The fatal crash occurred shortly after 11:45 p.m. According to a preliminary investigation, Maria Ines Cortes-Gutierrez, 40, of Glen Burnie, was traveling north on I-97 when she stopped her vehicle, which had no lights on, in the left lane near the Crownsville exit.

Her friend, Victor Antonio Diaz Aguilera, 33, of Annapolis, was driving in a separate vehicle. Police said Aguilera stopped on the right shoulder and ran across I-97 to check on Cortes-Gutierrez, who was seated in her vehicle.

The driver of a third vehicle northbound on I-97 tried to swerve around Cortes-Gutierrez’s vehicle, but struck Aguilera, a state police news release said. Aguilera was declared dead at the scene.

Cortes-Gutierrez was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and was taken to the Anne Arundel County Detention Center, police said.

The driver of the third vehicle was released and no charges were filed.

Anyone with information on this case is asked to contact the Annapolis Barrack at 410-267-5800.