One Dead, One Critically Hurt In Series Of Crashes: Officials

GLEN BURNIE, MD — People standing near their vehicles after an accident were then hit by another vehicle, with one person killed and four hospitalized, according to Anne Arundel County Fire officials. The fatal pile-up happened about 1:30 a.m. Friday on southbound I-97 between Route 100 and Quarterfield Road. None of the victims have yet been identified.

Maryland State Police say a Hyundai Elantra and a Mercury Sable were involved in a crash in the middle lane of the road. The Elantra's driver, along with a passenger of the Sable, both men, got out of their vehicles after the crash. As they stood near the cars, a Hyundai Accent crashed into both vehicles and also struck both men standing on the highway.

The driver of the Elantra was declared dead at the scene. His identity is being withheld pending family notification, police said.

The driver of the Accent, a woman in her 20s, was taken to University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries, authorities said.

The passenger of the Sable, along with the vehicle’s driver, a woman, and an 18-month-old girl who was also in the car, were taken by ambulance to R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center for treatment of their injuries. The male passenger was critically hurt, the woman driver suffered serious injuries, and the toddler had minor injuries, county fire officials said.

Authorities have not released the names of any of the victims.

According to investigators, alcohol and drugs were not contributing factors in either crash. The road was closed until about 5:50 a.m. on Friday. The cause of both crashes remain under investigation.

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