DATE: 05271 C.C.N. 12-32526
INCIDENT/CRIME: Serious Personal Injury Crash
DATE/TIME OF OCCURRENCE: 052712 @1151hrs.
LOCATION OF OCCURRENCE: Maryland Route 2 @ Lower Marlboro Road, Sunderland
DATE/TIME OF ARREST: N/A
LOCATION OF ARREST: N/A
VICTIM: See Narrative
SUSPECT(S) OR ACCUSED:
CHARGE(S): Pending

INVESTIGATING DEPUTY: Dfc. E. Bradley 3932

NARRATIVE: On 05/27/2012 members from the Calvert County Sheriff's Office and MSP responded to the scene of a personal injury crash on Maryland Route 2 at the intersection of Lower Marlboro Road in Sunderland. Two of the subjects that were involved in the crash were receiving CPR. Due to the severity of the crash members of the Crash Reconstruction Unit were asked to respond to the scene. Further investigation revealed that a 2007 silver Chevrolet Cobalt was traveling northbound along Maryland Route 2 slowing to turn left onto Lower Marlboro Road. A 2003gold Honda Accord was traveling northbound on Maryland Route 2 and swerved to the left in an attempt to avoid striking the Chevrolet Cobalt that was slowing to make the turn. The Honda Accord struck the Chevrolet Cobalt on the left rear bumper then continued into the southbound lane of Maryland Route 2 where it collided in a head on offset with a 2004 green GMC Envoy. Post collision the Honda Accord burst into flames. One of the subjects in the Honda was trapped and was unconscious. Three citizens were able to remove the subject from the burning vehicle by pulling him through the passenger's side window.

The three occupants in the Honda were from Baltimore. The driver of the Honda was flown to Med Star and the passengers were flown to Prince Georges Hospital Center. The occupants of the GMC Envoy were from Sunderland. The driver of the Envoy was flown to Med Star and the 7 year old granddaughter of the driver was flown to Children's Hospital. The occupants of the Chevrolet Cobalt were not injured. At the time of this press release all of the patients have been stabilized.

Further investigation revealed that a 2007 silver Chevrolet Cobalt was traveling northbound along Maryland Route 2 slowing to turn left onto Lower Marlboro Road. A 2003gold Honda Accord was traveling northbound on Maryland Route 2 and swerved to the left in an attempt to avoid striking the Chevrolet Cobalt that was slowing to make the turn.If the first car is slowing to make a left turn then why would the second car swerve to the left to avoid the first car?

That's what the "Crash Team" is going to find out.

If the first car is slowing to make a left turn then why would the second car swerve to the left to avoid the first car?

My guess:

The Cobalt was slowing to make the left, the Honda driver wasn't paying attention and came up on it, there was a car in the right lane, so Honda swerved to the left.

?

The Honda bursting into flames is disturbing. Note to self: stick with Toyota.

My guess:

The Cobalt was slowing to make the left, the Honda driver wasn't paying attention and came up on it, there was a car in the right lane, so Honda swerved to the left.

?

The Honda bursting into flames is disturbing. Note to self: stick with Toyota.

i'm no expert on the subject, but i think there are other factors (speed, point of impact) that would play a role in when/if the car catches fire. the two vehicles that had fire related fatalities after impact in calvert a few years ago - 1 was a cheverolet and i believe the other was a toyota..

If the first car is slowing to make a left turn then why would the second car swerve to the left to avoid the first car?

My guess:

The Cobalt was slowing to make the left, the Honda driver wasn't paying attention and came up on it, there was a car in the right lane, so Honda swerved to the left.

?

The Honda bursting into flames is disturbing. Note to self: stick with Toyota.

There is no right lane on that section of the road, only a berm (although it's a wide one). That section of road is right after the 2/4 split, by the church and is one lane in each direction I believe. It also comes up fast after making the turn from route 4 onto route 2. Could be any number of reasons -- no turn signal, didn't see the signal, didn't have time to think & just instinctively pulled to the left, could have been somebody behind them who pulled to the right onto the berm, hadn't yet adjusted to the shift from divided highway to two-way traffic, any number of scenarios could have happened. Fortunately, the reconstruction team will figure it all out. In the meantime, thank God for the Samaritans who pulled the one victim out of the burning car and send out prayers for all involved.

Again, we come down, I suspect to people not being trained enough, and not choosing the best crash you can get...........as for the lanes, there are two there....this view, I think, is about where the car that caused this would have been looking northbound. The car waiting has a lane just for taking that left, there is a right lane for going straight through. Could have been a car there, we dont know. But a certain rear end collision beats a possible head on almost any day. 35 against a stopped car is half the energy of 35 against a 35 oncoming vehicle.

A 2003gold Honda Accord was traveling northbound on Maryland Route 2 and swerved to the left in an attempt to avoid striking the Chevrolet Cobalt that was slowing to make the turn. The Honda Accord struck the Chevrolet Cobalt on the left rear bumper then continued into the southbound lane of Maryland Route 2 where it collided in a head on with a 2004 green GMC Envoy.

What a dumbass.
What the hell do people think is more important to do when they're driving than to pay attention to where they're going.

Whoops, forgot the link.....


Sunderland, 3, Sunderland, MD - Google Maps (http://goo.gl/maps/fKJd)

Again, we come down, I suspect to people not being trained enough, and not choosing the best crash you can get...........as for the lanes, there are two there....this view, I think, is about where the car that caused this would have been looking northbound. The car waiting has a lane just for taking that left, there is a right lane for going straight through. Could have been a car there, we dont know. But a certain rear end collision beats a possible head on almost any day. 35 against a stopped car is half the energy of 35 against a 35 oncoming vehicle.

Lets see...
Perfect day, dry roads, clear sky, straight road for a good distance, nothing blocking the view.

Drivers doing "something", not paying attention, not thinking ahead, not being aware of traffic around them and not having an escape route (best crash scenario)

In Drivers Ed, we were taught to leave 1 car length for every 10 mph. I still try to do that.
Gives me room to act in the event.....
Had that been done, there might have not been an accident.

Whoops, forgot the link.....
er

Sunderland, 3, Sunderland, MD - Google Maps (http://goo.gl/maps/fKJd)

Thank you! I stand corrected. I used to drive that section regularly but that was 15 years ago and they've obviously done some construction there since then. I was at the church for the Wine & Art Festival (DD) a couple of weeks ago but didn't remember that there were two lanes there (probably because I was focused on looking for cars coming at me when I pulled out of the park & ride, lol).

Google maps is a wonderful thing, isn't it?

I am waiting for someone to rear end me on Rt 4. I had this large truck a couple of weeks back that was riding my tail. The light at the hospital turn red and I went to slow down and that thing was not breaking. I pulled over into the left turn lane to get out of it's way and it blow right through the red light. After I started breathing again, I backed up to get out of the intersection and another idiot at the light honked at me.

I am waiting for someone to rear end me on Rt 4. I had this large truck a couple of weeks back that was riding my tail. The light at the hospital turn red and I went to slow down and that thing was not breaking. I pulled over into the left turn lane to get out of it's way and it blow right through the red light. After I started breathing again, I backed up to get out of the intersection and another idiot at the light honked at me.

Thank goodness you were ok. And the guy that honked at you is more than an idiot. When I lived in Mobile AL, I was driving home, and my exit was backed up onto the interstate cuz of whatever, so traffic was at a dead stop...I was rearended by a guy that never put on his brakes going 60+, busted my gas tank, car started on fire, I was extremely lucky. My Buick LeSabre looked like a VW bug cuz he pushed me into the guy in front of me. I had bad whiplash for years, but that is gone now. That was in 1976, so now it is worse cuz people are so distracted with their stupid cell phones, which did not exist when I was involved in the accident. Being a defensive driver never had more meaning than it does today.

Another view of the section of road. The top of the picture is north (loosely).

Lets see...
Perfect day, dry roads, clear sky, straight road for a good distance, nothing blocking the view.

Drivers doing "something", not paying attention, not thinking ahead, not being aware of traffic around them and not having an escape route (best crash scenario)

In Drivers Ed, we were taught to leave 1 car length for every 10 mph. I still try to do that.
Gives me room to act in the event.....
Had that been done, there might have not been an accident.


Dont get me wrong, I am not glossing over the driver malpratice that led to the need to dodge the stooped car in the first place. As both a very proactive driver, and as a motorcyclist, I have very little tolerance for poor driving.

Thank goodness you were ok. And the guy that honked at you is more than an idiot. When I lived in Mobile AL, I was driving home, and my exit was backed up onto the interstate cuz of whatever, so traffic was at a dead stop...I was rearended by a guy that never put on his brakes going 60+, busted my gas tank, car started on fire, I was extremely lucky. My Buick LeSabre looked like a VW bug cuz he pushed me into the guy in front of me. I had bad whiplash for years, but that is gone now. That was in 1976, so now it is worse cuz people are so distracted with their stupid cell phones, which did not exist when I was involved in the accident. Being a defensive driver never had more meaning than it does today.

Holy cow!

See, I think people who cause accidents because of negligence, in whatever form, should lose their driver's license. Do they even do that anymore, take peoples' license away?

Holy cow!

See, I think people who cause accidents because of negligence, in whatever form, should lose their driver's license. Do they even do that anymore, take peoples' license away?

Holy cow is right, vrai. That guy doesn't even know what he did to my future. I am the worst front and back seat driver ever (stomping on the floor or saying "look out, brake lights!), and I am constantly looking in my rear view and cringing. It made me neurotic about driving..making my world very small. That is why my hub taught my children to drive. Didn't want to pass on my fears:yikes: I am so sad about the accidents that happened this weekend.:bawl:

I also want to tell this story because it is so hearbreaking to me. My hub is a baseball coach at Patuxent HS. They made it to states this weekend and lost 2-1 in 2A and of course, we were sad. BUT, then I learned that the team that won, Williamsport, had a horrible tragedy happen to them. Their star pitcher and his girlfriend were killed on prom night when their car left the road, and hit a tree. That is devistating to all concerned, and I am so sorry they lost their children (honor roll, star athletes, good kids). I am so glad Williamsport won to honor the children lost. My hub said hundreds from that school turned out for the game with signs and all. I hope it helps them heal. I am so sad, and am saying constant prayers for the ones left behind. :bawl:

Maryland 2A baseball: Williamsport edges Patuxent, 2-1 - The Washington Post (http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/highschools/maryland-2a-baseball-williamsport-edges-patuxent-2-1/2012/05/26/gJQAqTTfsU_story.html)

Holy cow is right, vrai. That guy doesn't even know what he did to my future. I am the worst front and back seat driver ever (stomping on the floor or saying "look out, brake lights!), and I am constantly looking in my rear view and cringing. It made me neurotic about driving..making my world very small. That is why my hub taught my children to drive. Didn't want to pass on my fears:yikes: I am so sad about the accidents that happened this weekend.:bawl:

I also want to tell this story because it is so hearbreaking to me. My hub is a coach at Patuxent HS. They made it to states this weekend and lost 2-1 in 2A and of course, we were sad. BUT, then I learned that the team that won, Williamsport, had a horrible tragedy happen to them. Their star pitcher and his girlfriend were killed on prom night when their car left the road, and hit a tree. That is devistating to all concerned, and I am so sorry they lost their children (honor roll, star athletes, good kids). I am so glad Williamsport won to honor the children lost. My hub said hundreds from that school turned out for the game with signs and all. I hope it helps them heal. I am so sad, and am saying constant prayers for the ones left behind. :bawl:

Wow..that is so sad. ( I "like" it as there is no "I am sorry" button)
You never know..in a blink a loved one is gone.
It is so hard to be 100% safe all the time. I am sorry for that young couple and the whole community. :huggy:

Wow..that is so sad. ( I "like" it as there is no "I am sorry" button)
You never know..in a blink a loved one is gone.
It is so hard to be 100% safe all the time. I am sorry for that young couple and the whole community. :huggy:

Thanks for the hug, Kate, because I feel connected to this. I have been crying all weekend for those two children that I didn't even know. And from the hear say, it was all about who could get home the fastest to change before going out again. As far as any info, no alcohol, drugs, etc. was involved. It is just so devistating.

Maryland 2A baseball: Williamsport edges Patuxent, 2-1 - The Washington Post (http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/highschools/maryland-2a-baseball-williamsport-edges-patuxent-2-1/2012/05/26/gJQAqTTfsU_story.html)

Teens Remembered After Prom Night Crash | NBC4 Washington (http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Hagerstown-Teens-Prom-Night-Crash-150511275.html)

Maybe vrai can add an I am sorry/empathy button, but we all still know what "like" means when it is a sad situation. :huggy:

Holy cow is right, vrai. That guy doesn't even know what he did to my future. I am the worst front and back seat driver ever (stomping on the floor or saying "look out, brake lights!), and I am constantly looking in my rear view and cringing. It made me neurotic about driving..making my world very small. That is why my hub taught my children to drive. Didn't want to pass on my fears:yikes: I am so sad about the accidents that happened this weekend.:bawl:

I also want to tell this story because it is so hearbreaking to me. My hub is a baseball coach at Patuxent HS. They made it to states this weekend and lost 2-1 in 2A and of course, we were sad. BUT, then I learned that the team that won, Williamsport, had a horrible tragedy happen to them. Their star pitcher and his girlfriend were killed on prom night when their car left the road, and hit a tree. That is devistating to all concerned, and I am so sorry they lost their children (honor roll, star athletes, good kids). I am so glad Williamsport won to honor the children lost. My hub said hundreds from that school turned out for the game with signs and all. I hope it helps them heal. I am so sad, and am saying constant prayers for the ones left behind. :bawl:

Awesome that they made it that far, and even though they lost, it's a pretty good story and probably a morale booster for Williamsport.

Awesome that they made it that far, and even though they lost, it's a pretty good story and probably a morale booster for Williamsport.

Yes, not only a morale booster, but, hopefully, a lesson learned in a tragic way, that teens will understand they are not immortal. I want them to get it. My son's totaled car was used as the Trooper U barracks example...don't end up like this car...a few years ago. You know, by Calvert Towing on the corner of Armory Road, in Prince Fred. Did you ever see the silver Eclipse displayed out there...that was his...and nothing left in tact, but the driver's seat. That is why accidents like the one in Williamsport make me so sad. I am very lucky to still have my son, but I always wonder why, when other parents lose their child. I have faith, but I don't know if I could continue having it if I lost my child. I am just so, so sad for those parents that I don't even know.

What a dumbass.
What the hell do people think is more important to do when they're driving than to pay attention to where they're going.

Let's see, texting, talking on the phone, putting on makeup, shaving, reading, eating a sammich w/both hands, digging around in one's purse, picking something up off the floor, reaching for something in the back seat, zoning out,.... I've seen all of these and the list goes on.

Let's see, texting, talking on the phone, putting on makeup, shaving, reading, eating a sammich w/both hands, digging around in one's purse, picking something up off the floor, reaching for something in the back seat, zoning out,.... I've seen all of these and the list goes on.

You are so right. :frown: How can we change this because I refuse to believe that people are that stupid. Talk/text when you stop, put your makeup on before leaving the house, shaving????, reading???? while driving :jameo:, eat before you leave the house...digging in purse, picking something off the floor or reaching in back seat, is just plain stupid. Zoning out...we just can't control. Defensive driving is the only answer to keep the good drivers alive. My hub and fam always give me grief cuz I wait until there is no car in sight before I make a move. May take longer to get somewhere, but my (and fam) life will be longer. Again, my prayers go out to any fam that has lost a loved one on the road. :huggy:

Heres another thing that I found shocking today, looking at the St. Marys MSP Report thats listed with the news briefs, the DUI/DWI arrest's for the MSP in St. Marys totaled 17 earlier this month in a 11 day period. Thats the largest total I think I have ever seen, and you wonder just how many more the Sheriffs Office pulled over during that period.
With that many impaired drivers out there it wont be long till there is a bad accident, and a innocent person is seriously injured or killed.

Heres another thing that I found shocking today, looking at the St. Marys MSP Report thats listed with the news briefs, the DUI/DWI arrest's for the MSP in St. Marys totaled 17 earlier this month in a 11 day period. Thats the largest total I think I have ever seen, and you wonder just how many more the Sheriffs Office pulled over during that period.
With that many impaired drivers out there it wont be long till there is a bad accident, and a innocent person is seriously injured or killed.

I like to have a cocktail or two, but would never drive after I have had them, whether at home or in a restaurant/bar. I am 56 years old, and have never waivered on that. I don't understand why people take the risk of drinking and driving. There are other options. I am crazy in other ways, :lol:, but the drinking/driving thing makes no sense to me...and let's not forget the current drug of choice...pills. That is why we have to be vigilent.

I think it would be great if all soon-to-be new Drivers had to ride along with Paramedics, to see what we have to go through on any given day, or Call. I think if you get them when they are young, it just might cure them of being stupid behind the Wheel. I did have a few people ride along with me when I was on Duty. Whether, or not it helped, I will never know.