Two Killed in Arnold Crash; Alcohol a Factor: Police

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Two men died Tuesday night in a crash that police say was likely caused by a driver who disregarded a red light after he had been drinking.

Anne Arundel County Police were called to northbound Ritchie Highway (MD-2) at College Parkway in Arnold just after 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Investigators say a Nissan Sentra driven by Manual A. Valencia, 32, was southbound on Ritchie Highway facing a red left-turn arrow. Valencia turned left toward College Parkway in the path of a GMC Suburban driven by Charles Michael Nossick, 56, of Arnold and Severna Park, that was headed northbound on Ritchie Highway.

The GMC struck the passenger side of the Nissan, causing it to overturn. Police say the vehicles eventually came to rest after the GMC pushed the Nissan sideways out of the intersection and into the traffic signal pole.

Valencia was pronounced dead at the scene. Police say Nossick, who was thrown from the Suburban, was taken to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center with critical injuries. He died not long after arrival.

Investigators say the crash appears to have been caused by Valencia’s failure to obey the red left-turn signal. A contributing factor appears to be alcohol use by Valencia.

The investigation into the fatal accident continues.

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