Driver In Route 1 Crash Was Under The Influence: Police

FALLSTON, MD — A Bel Air resident is being charged with driving under the influence after a head-on collision that sent two people to the hospital Saturday morning in Harford County, officials say. The crash closed US 1 for nearly four hours and required a medevac response, according to police.

Troopers arrived within seconds of receiving an 8 a.m. call that a tan Buick driving erratically had hit a black Toyota Camry in the area of Belair Road at Connolly Road. Police said officers had been in the area conducting a traffic initiative in the area.

Based on the investigation, police said the Buick driver, a Bel Air resident driving erratically on US 1 north, crossed the center line and hit the Camry head-on, pinning its driver.

The Camry's engine compartment caught fire and started blowing into the Buick, police said. Troopers used fire extinguishers to contain the fire until the firefighters arrived, officials reported.

Both drivers had to be rescued from their vehicles by first responders from the Fallston Volunteer Fire and Ambulance Company and the Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company, according to Rich Gardiner, spokesman for the Harford County Volunteer Fire and EMS Association.

The crash victims, described as two men, were taken to regional trauma centers for treatment. One was airlifted, while the other was taken by ambulance, according to Gardiner.

The Camry driver was taken to Bayview Medical Center by ambulance, police reported.

The Buick driver, who was semi-conscious, was flown to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center and was being charged with DUI, according to officials.

As of 11:49 a.m., police reported Belair Road had reopened; during the crash response, it was closed between Connolly Road and Fallston Boulevard.

Photos courtesy of Andrew Doyle, Joppa-Magnolia Volunteer Fire Company.