Update: New Jersey Trucker Cited in I-495 Crash Near American Legion Bridge

UPDATED at 12:20 p.m. BETHESDA, MD — All Outer Loop lanes have reopened after a Wednesday morning crash involving three cars from Montgomery County and two box trucks near the American Legion Bridge on Interstate 495, say county emergency officials. The wreck snarled traffic to a halt for several hours and delays continue.

Maryland State Police say the pile-up occurred about 7:45 a.m. on the Outer Loop of I-495 just before the American Legion Bridge, where a commercial box truck overturned, which shut down all traffic lanes. The drivers involved suffered minor injuries, but nobody required transport to the hospital.

Investigators say a 2014 Freightliner box truck driven by Evan Ruddy of Metuchen, NJ, was southbound on I-495 in lane one, approaching the bridge when traffic came to an abrupt stop. The truck was unable to stop in time and struck a box truck in lane two; the Freightliner overturned and landed on top of two cars.

The passenger cars crushed by the tractor-trailer were a 2015 BMW 428I driven by Quinn Burroughs of Rockville, and a 2007 Chrysler PT Cruiser driven by Alan Oberstein of Silver Spring. The PT Cruiser was pushed forward and struck the rear of a 2014 Chevrolet Cruz driven by Mariah Morgan of Clarksville.

Ruddy, the driver of the 2014 Freightliner, was charged by Maryland State Police with negligent driving, as well as operating on a suspended license and other related charges.

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services HazMat crews were called to the scene to deal with the fuel spill.

For a time, all lanes on the outer loop of I-495 between Cabin John Parkway and the bridge were closed. At 8:30 a.m., the fire department said one lane had reopened to traffic.

The Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management said just before 11 a.m. that all lanes are now open on the outer loop of I-495 at the American Legion Bridge, but delays remain in the area.

»Photos courtesy of Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services