Odenton Corvette Driver Dies Making U-Turn: Police

ODENTON, MD — An Odenton Corvette driver died Saturday night in a crash with an SUV that appears to have been caused by the victim's ill-timed U-turn, according to Anne Arundel County Police.

William Fields, 61, of the 300 block of Oatley Court in Odenton, died shortly after 6 p.m. Saturday while driving his 2005 Chevrolet Corvette. Police say Fields' Corvette was making a U-turn from a stop on the shoulder of westbound Annapolis Road, to travel east on Annapolis Road.

A 2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer driven by Ashley A. Carpenter, 27, of the 600 block of Realm Court West in Odenton, was westbound on Annapolis Road as Fields failed to yield the right of way. The Corvette was struck in the driver’s side by the Trailblazer, police say, then the sports car accelerated and traveled north, leaving the roadway and striking a building at 1592 Annapolis Road. Fields' car then accelerated in reverse and struck the Trailblazer in the rear, and then stopped.

The drivers of both vehicles were taken to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma. Fields was pronounced dead at Shock Trauma, while Carpenter was listed in stable condition Monday morning.

The primary cause of the crash appears to be Fields' failure to yield the right of way when making a U-turn. Excessive speed does not appear to be a factor in this crash. Any charges are pending review by the State’s Attorney, police said.