Police ID Tow Truck Driver Killed In I-95 Crash Near White Marsh

BALTIMORE COUNTY, MD (- A deadly crash involving a tractor-trailer and a tow truck shut down Interstate 95 in both directions near Kingsville Thursday afternoon and sent two people to area hospitals, police said.

Tow truck driver Ronald Lee Bower, 61, of Pasadena, died following the collision, authorities reported.

Police said that around 12:33 p.m., Bower was driving the tow truck north on I-95 when for unknown reasons in the area of Bradshaw Road, it veered from the middle into the right lane and hit a disabled tractor-trailer parked on the right shoulder.

The 2008 white Ford DS flatbed tow truck went under the tractor-trailer and trapped Bower, according to officials.

Crews from White Marsh, Kingsville, Joppa-Magnolia and Baltimore County were called to the scene, where Joppa-Magnolia said officials used the jaws of life in the rescue operation.

Bower was airlifted to the University of Maryland R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, where police said he succumbed to his injuries.

The tow truck passenger - Joseph Herbert Warner, 80, of Pasadena - was ejected onto the right shoulder, according to Maryland State Police. Warner was taken to Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center and treated for injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening, police reported.

Ismael Matos Jr., 52, of Raleigh, North Carolina, was asleep in the sleeping area of the white Freightliner tractor-trailer, which was disabled on the right shoulder, police said, and he was not injured.

Lanes were closed on both I-95 north and south so the medevac could respond to the scene.

By 1:30 p.m., transportation officials said the medevac had come and gone, and I-95 south had reopened.

Lanes remained closed on I-95 north in the area of mile marker 72 for hours, the Maryland Transportation Authority reported. All but the right lane had reopened on I-95 north as of 3:15 p.m. but officials said significant delays remained.

Commuter buses in the Harford County area may experience moderate delays Thursday afternoon due to the shutdown, the Maryland Transit Administration said.

See the latest lane closure information from state transportation officials.

PREVIOUS REPORT: A crash has reportedly shut down Interstate 95 north of the White Marsh Boulevard exit Thursday afternoon.

A medevac was called to the scene, which was in the area of I-95 north at the Baltimore-Harford county line, the Joppa-Magnolia Volunteer Fire Company reported at 12:45 p.m. Firefighters said they were using the jaws of life to get to the victim(s).

At 1:15 p.m., the Maryland Transportation Authority advised that both I-95 north and south were blocked so the helicopter could land.

All lanes were closed on I-95 north in the area of mile marker 72, and delays were building before Joppa Road, the Maryland Transportation Authority reported at 12:55 p.m.

Drivers were advised to get off at the exit for MD 43/White Marsh Boulevard.

See the latest lane closure information from state transportation officials.

Still from CHART traffic cameras.