Police Locate Driver In Beltway Crash That Killed Tree Trimmer

SILVER SPRING, MD — State police on Thursday identified the driver involved in a hit-and-run crash that killed a D.C. tree trimmer as he worked on the shoulder of the Capital Beltway.

Jadien Ranard Jones, 39, of Henrico, Virginia, was driving a white 2021 Freightliner straight truck on eastbound Interstate 495 in Silver Spring on Wednesday when authorities said he struck 57-year-old Eric Lewis, a foreman for a mobile tree trimming operation.

According to state police, the crash happened shortly before 10:15 a.m. as the tree-trimming crew was working on the right shoulder of the interstate east of Linden Lane.

Police said the crew was in the process of removing equipment from their work trucks and setting up roadwork signs when the Freightliner veered onto the right shoulder, striking multiple traffic cones and Lewis.

According to police, the truck was hauling a flatbed with a forklift.

Lewis was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

Authorities located the truck at The Home Depot Distribution Center in Sparrows Point on Wednesday and located the driver, later identified as Jones.

Charges against Jones are pending the outcome of the investigation and consultation with the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office, police said.

In a statement released Thursday, Maryland Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller pledged to do more to protect highway workers on state roads.

"Governor Moore’s and my greatest priority is to protect Marylanders," Miller said. "The dedicated men and women who work on our roadways put themselves in harm's way every day. The frequency at which they are injured and tragically lose their lives is an unacceptable reality that the Moore Miller administration is working to change."

She continued, "For the past 8 months we have developed ways to bring a culture shift to change driver behavior which requires greater education, engineering, and enforcement. We must — and we will — do more to protect our roadway workers."