(EASTERN SHORE, MD) – Maryland State Police are investigating two separate fatal crashes that occurred on the Eastern Shore over the Fourth of July weekend.
Around 10:15 p.m. on July 3, troopers from the Maryland State Police Easton Barrack responded to the area of eastbound Ocean Gateway (Route 50) at Mt. Holly Road for a report of a three-vehicle crash.
The driver of a Kia Soul, identified as James Demby, 43, of Cambridge, Maryland, was pronounced deceased on the scene. The driver of an Audi Q5, identified as a 40-year-old male; the driver of a Subaru Forrester, identified as a 17-year-old male; and a passenger in the Subaru, identified as a 17-year-old male, were all transported by ambulance to a local hospital for treatment of their injuries. An additional passenger in the Subaru, a 17-year-old male, was flown by Maryland State Police Aviation Command to a local trauma center for treatment of his injuries.
The preliminary investigation indicates all three vehicles were traveling eastbound on U.S. Route 50 when, for reasons unknown, the Kia Soul attempted to cross between the Subaru and the Audi, subsequently striking the Subaru and then the Audi. The Audi came to rest in an embankment. The Subaru came to rest in the median. The Kia struck a light pole and then came to rest in a ditch.
Assistance on scene was provided by personnel from the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration and Fire Department. Lanes were closed for more than three hours.
Then, around 9:43 a.m. on July 4, troopers from the Maryland State Police Centreville Barrack responded to southbound U.S. Route 301 at Roberts Station Road for a report of a two-vehicle crash. One person believed to be the driver of the SUV was pronounced deceased on the scene. Their positive identification is pending autopsy results. No further injuries reported.
The preliminary investigation indicates that an SUV was traveling west on Roberts Station Road, approaching the intersection at U.S. Route 301, when for unknown reasons, it continued through the intersection and struck a tractor-trailer that was traveling south. The impact of the crash caused the SUV to become pinned under the tractor-trailer and catch fire. Both vehicles came to a rest on the shoulder of lane two. Police believe that speeding may have been a factor in the crash.
Troopers from the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division and Automotive Safety Enforcement Division are assisting with the crash investigation. Personnel from the Queen Anne’s County Office of the Sheriff, Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration, and Natural Resources Police additionally assisted on the scene. Lanes were closed for more than three hours for the crash investigation.
The Maryland State Police Crash Team continues to lead these active and ongoing investigations.