(Rockville, MD) – Maryland State Police are actively investigating a pedestrian fatal that occurred early this morning in Montgomery County.
The deceased is identified as Jerasimos Ray Blanton, 33, of Rockville. Investigators believe Blanton was the driver of a 2015 Ford Explorer at the time of the incident. Emergency medical service personnel declared him deceased at the scene prior to being transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore for autopsy.
The other vehicle involved is a 2018 Freightliner flatbed truck. The driver of the flatbed truck remained on the scene and is cooperating with investigators. He was uninjured during the incident.
Shortly before 5:30 a.m. this morning, troopers from the Rockville Barrack responded to the report of a crash at northbound I-270, north of Shady Grove Road. Upon their arrival, troopers found an unattended 2015 Ford Explorer elevated on a jack with extensive damage to the left side of the vehicle, on the right shoulder of the highway. A 2018 Freightliner flatbed truck was stopped further north on the right side of the road.
The preliminary investigation indicates the Ford Explorer was traveling northbound I-270, north of Shady Grove Road when for reasons unknown at this time, it struck the concrete median. Investigators believe the impact may have caused the left front tire to deflate before the vehicle came to rest on the right shoulder of the highway.
Police believe the driver jacked up the vehicle in an attempt to change the deflated tire. For unknown reasons at this time, investigators believe the driver was attempting to cross the northbound lanes of I-270 when he was struck by the Freightliner truck.
Troopers from the Rockville Barrack responded to the scene along with investigators from the Maryland State Police Crash team. Assistance at the scene was also provided by state police from the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division. Officers from the Montgomery County Police Department and personnel from the Montgomery County Fire Department also responded. Investigators from the Criminal Enforcement Division and analysts from the Maryland State Police Forensic Sciences Division assisted with the identification of the deceased.
Personnel from the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration assisted with road closures and detours. The northbound lanes of I-270 at I-370 were closed until approximately 10:00 a.m. this morning.
Police urge anyone who may have witnessed this crash to contact Rockville Barrack at 301-424-2101. This investigation is active and ongoing.
CONTACT: Office of Media Communications, 410-653-4236
The deceased is identified as Jerasimos Ray Blanton, 33, of Rockville. Investigators believe Blanton was the driver of a 2015 Ford Explorer at the time of the incident. Emergency medical service personnel declared him deceased at the scene prior to being transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore for autopsy.
The other vehicle involved is a 2018 Freightliner flatbed truck. The driver of the flatbed truck remained on the scene and is cooperating with investigators. He was uninjured during the incident.
Shortly before 5:30 a.m. this morning, troopers from the Rockville Barrack responded to the report of a crash at northbound I-270, north of Shady Grove Road. Upon their arrival, troopers found an unattended 2015 Ford Explorer elevated on a jack with extensive damage to the left side of the vehicle, on the right shoulder of the highway. A 2018 Freightliner flatbed truck was stopped further north on the right side of the road.
The preliminary investigation indicates the Ford Explorer was traveling northbound I-270, north of Shady Grove Road when for reasons unknown at this time, it struck the concrete median. Investigators believe the impact may have caused the left front tire to deflate before the vehicle came to rest on the right shoulder of the highway.
Police believe the driver jacked up the vehicle in an attempt to change the deflated tire. For unknown reasons at this time, investigators believe the driver was attempting to cross the northbound lanes of I-270 when he was struck by the Freightliner truck.
Troopers from the Rockville Barrack responded to the scene along with investigators from the Maryland State Police Crash team. Assistance at the scene was also provided by state police from the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division. Officers from the Montgomery County Police Department and personnel from the Montgomery County Fire Department also responded. Investigators from the Criminal Enforcement Division and analysts from the Maryland State Police Forensic Sciences Division assisted with the identification of the deceased.
Personnel from the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration assisted with road closures and detours. The northbound lanes of I-270 at I-370 were closed until approximately 10:00 a.m. this morning.
Police urge anyone who may have witnessed this crash to contact Rockville Barrack at 301-424-2101. This investigation is active and ongoing.
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CONTACT: Office of Media Communications, 410-653-4236