Serious I-695 Crash Involved Alcohol: Police

BALTIMORE COUNTY, MD — Alcohol and speed may have been involved in a five-vehicle crash on Interstate 695 Thursday night near Charles Street, according to Maryland State Police. Officials said that five people were taken to local hospitals, one of whom had life-threatening injuries.

At 6:01 p.m, troopers were called to the crash on I-695 before the Charles Street exit, where all lanes of the interstate were blocked by vehicles with varying damage. Witnesses said that a 2016 Kia Forte had been weaving and speeding in traffic, according to authorities.

The 23-year-old Kia driver was taken to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center with injuries that could be fatal, police reported as of 10 p.m.

"An odor of alcohol beverage was detected on his person, and several empty alcoholic beverage containers were found in his vehicle," police said in a statement.

Authorities said they were conducting a blood test on the driver, and the investigation was ongoing. As of late Thursday night, officials were notifying family members of the driver's condition. His identity was not publicly disclosed.

All lanes of I-695 were shut down for the crash reconstruction team to investigate. Police said that the State Highway Administration was detouring traffic onto Charles Street. By midnight, all lanes had reopened.

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