Police Identify Motorcyclist in Wednesday's Deadly Crash in Bowie

Police are still investigating the cause of a crash in Bowie that resulted in the death of two people and the hospitalization of a third, and have identified the deceased rider of the motorcycle as 25-year-old Gabriel John Gales of Springdale, Md.

Troopers from the Maryland State Police responded to a report of an accident on Crain Highway at the intersection of Sylvan Drive at around 4:44 p.m. Aug. 3. They found a Toyota SUV resting on the guardrail and a Yamaha motorcycle lying underneath the guardrail next to the SUV, according to a state police report.

The driver of the SUV, a 71-year-old man from Bowie, was dead. The passenger, a 69-year-old woman also from Bowie, was initially trapped and had to be flown to a hospital by Maryland State Police, where she is being treated for her injuries. Their identities are being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

Police are still trying to figure out what happened. The roads were dry and weather was clear at the time of the accident, and there is no sign that anyone involved was impaired.

The crash resulted in the closure of the southbound lanes of Crain Highway, which were later reopened.

"Anyone with information regarding this crash is asked to contact the Maryland State Police, College Park Barrack at 410-345-3101," the report states. "The investigation is continuing."

Image via Flickr user Tony Webster