Maryland State Police are trying to determine what caused a collision that resulted in one fatality and two injuries on a Saturday morning last month. The crash happened shortly before 5:00 a.m. in the westbound lanes of traffic on Interstate 70 in Myersville.
According to authorities, one of the vehicles involved in the crash exited the roadway and drove into the median, striking a guardrail. The collision with the guardrail caused the car to flip over on its side and come to rest across both lanes of the interstate.
It’s unknown at this time if another, unknown car may have led to this car striking the guardrail. Police say that while the vehicle was on its side, there was not sufficient illumination along the road to make the car visible to the other vehicles on the road. As a result, another vehicle hit the car in the back, causing the first vehicle to spin. Next, a third and final car struck the first vehicle in the roof area.
The 38-year-old driver of the first car died at the accident scene after emergency responders were unable to save him. Two people riding in the third car suffered non-fatal injuries that required hospital care. Fortunately, no one in the second car was injured.
Police suspect that alcohol may have played a role in the crash, but they have yet to file any charges against the people involved in the collision. Because this accident involves possibly drunk drivers, multiple vehicles and potentially an inadequately lit section of Interstate 70, it could give rise to personal injury and/or wrongful death claims.
From a legal perspective, in all cases of complex car accident scenes, it’s vital that victims and family members of the deceased fully understand all of the crash components and how these factors may be used to support a potential claim for damages.