Heroin Use By Driver Suspected In Fatal Annapolis Crash: Police

ANNAPOLIS, MD — Anne Arundel County Police have released the names of those killed and injured in a crash near the Bay Bridge on Sunday. Heroin use by the driver police say appeared to be at fault may have contributed to the three-car pileup shortly before 2 p.m. in the 300 block of Buschs Frontage Road. An Arnold woman died in the accident.

A speeding Ford Taurus was eastbound on Buschs Frontage Road when it crossed the centerline, sideswiped a Toyota Camry then spun and was struck broadside by a Ford F-150 pickup truck, police say. The driver of the Camry and both occupants of the Taurus were flown to Shock Trauma in Baltimore. The driver of the 2000 Camry — Laurel Dawn Zeiler, 81, of Arnold — died from her injuries. Her body will be taken to the Medical Examiner's office for an autopsy to determine the cause of death.

Route 50 was closed for about half an hour so medical helicopters could land to take the most seriously injured victims to Shock Trauma.

Police say the preliminary cause of the crash was the failure of the Taurus driver — Christopher Michael Dillehunt, 27, of Queenstown — to remain right of center and excessive speed. It is also believed that heroin use was a contributing factor. Any charges will be filed after review by the state's attorney's office.

The drivers and passengers of the other vehicles were taken by ambulance to Anne Arundel Medical Center with minor injuries. They are:

• Tammy Lynn Lawson, 24, of Queenstown, who was a passenger in Dillehunt's vehicle. She is in critical condition at Maryland Shock Trauma.
• Cynthia L. Whittington, 57, of Arnold, a passenger in Zeiler's car, was taken to Anne Arundel Medical Center with minor injuries.
• Kathi J. Ridgley, 29, of Lothian, the driver of the pickup truck, was taken to Anne Arundel Medical Center with minor injuries.
• Aaron J. Catterton, 30, of Lothian, a passenger in the truck, was taken to Anne Arundel Medical Center with minor injuries.

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