Distractions on Maryland roadways do not always have to do with smartphones or “Facebooking” while driving. Indeed, sometimes there is a distraction that presents itself on the outside of vehicles and it causes drivers to become so distracted that they stop paying attention to what’s most important — the road in front of them. In a crash that happened earlier this week, for example, Maryland drivers were distracted by a Congressional motorcade and a fatal accident resulted.
Now, police investigators are trying to determine the how and why behind this multi-vehicle crash. What we know so far is that he incident happened as a Congressional motorcade was passing through the area close to Frederick at the intersection of Interstate 70 and Interstate 270.
Authorities indicate that a sport utility vehicle driver was snarled up into an accident with three dump trucks. Although the motorcade was not directly involved in the multi-car pileup, it’s possible that the crash happened because drivers were distracted when they saw the motorcade. According to a Senator Bernie Sanders spokesperson, the motorcade was for a special retreat being held by Senate Democrats in Shepherdstown, approximately 70 miles away from Washington, D.C.
Tragically, the driver of the sport utility vehicle suffered fatal injuries and did not survive the collision. There haven’t been reports of any other injuries, and the condition of the three dump truck drivers remains unknown. As accident scene investigators tended to the site of the collision, authorities needed to shut down Interstate 70’s westbound lanes, and I-270’s northbound off-ramp lanes.
Maryland drivers who get hurt in a traffic accident caused by another driver’s negligence or inattention to the road will have the ability to seek financial restitution from the parties at fault for the crash. In addition, in the case of a fatal crash, family members of the accident victim will be able to pursue wrongful death claims against negligent or unlawfully acting parties who caused their loved one’s death.
Source: wtop.com, “Interstate crash in Maryland as motorcade passes; 1 dead,” Jan. 25, 2017