Driver Died Jumping From Car On I-695: Police

BALTIMORE COUNTY, MD — One person died in a crash Wednesday night on Interstate 695 in Baltimore County, police reported. The fatal crash happened near the exit for US 40/Baltimore National Pike on the outer loop of the beltway.

Michael C. Dent, 38, of Catonsville, was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Police said the fatal crash was not the first collision the driver had been in Wednesday evening.

Based on the preliminary investigation, officials reported Dent had been driving on the ramp from Security Boulevard to the outer loop of I-695 when he rear-ended someone, then continued onto the beltway.

Witnesses said he jumped out of his car while it was in the third lane on I-695, and a tractor-trailer hit him in the second lane from the left, according to Maryland State Police.

The car continued on, without anybody inside, until it came to rest against the jersey wall along the left side of the beltway, police said.

The driver who jumped out of his car was pronounced deceased at the scene, where the medical examiner and investigators were handling the case. Police said the reasons for the driver's actions were not known.

No one else was injured, officials reported.

After 11 p.m., the outer loop remained closed in the area of the exit for Route 40.

See the latest lane closure information from state transportation officials.

ALERT - crash closes all lanes I-695 Outer Loop at Exit 15 B - US 40. #MDOTNews #MdTraffic MM
— MD State Highway Adm (@MDSHA) September 6, 2018

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