Herndon Driver Killed In Annapolis Crash

ANNAPOLIS, MD — A Herndon resident was one of two people who died early Wednesday morning in a head-on crash on Route 50 near the Bay Bridge in Annapolis, authorities say. All westbound lanes of the highway were closed for five hours as the crash was investigated, but traffic is now moving through the area.

Alcohol use by one of the drivers may have played a role in the crash, authorities said. WJZ reports that alcoholic beverage containers were found in the Severn driver's vehicle.

Maryland State Police say troopers from the Annapolis Barrack were on their way to Route 50 at the Severn River Bridge about 2 a.m. after authorities received a call that reported a vehicle was eastbound in the westbound lanes of Route 50. Moments later, a trooper in the area came upon a crash scene at westbound Route 50 and Bay Dale Drive. Three vehicles were involved in the crash.

The drivers killed are Christine Parks, 31, of Severn and Hui Xu, 34, of Herndon, Virginia, WJZ reports. Authorities say the vehicle driven by Parks was eastbound in the left lane of westbound Route 50, and struck the vehicle driven by Xu head-on. The impact caused Xu’s 2002 Honda Civic to spin into the middle lane, where it was struck by a 2014 Toyota Avalon. The driver and passenger of the Avalon, a 21-year-old man and woman from California, were both were taken to Anne Arundel County Medical Center, where they were treated and released.

All lanes of westbound Route 50 were closed as area fire and rescue units responded. There were no passengers in the vehicles driven by Parks and Xu, state police say.

Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration personnel detoured westbound traffic at Cape St. Clair Road while the highway was closed.

The cause of the crash has not been confirmed at this time.

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