Maryland State Police are still investigating the details of a car crash that killed six highway workers on the Baltimore Beltway on Wednesday afternoon.
At about 12:40 p.m., troopers from the Maryland State Police Golden Ring Barrack responded to a report of a pedestrian crash in a work zone at the inner loop of I-695 at Security Boulevard. Upon investigation, troopers learned that two cars were involved in a collision that led to a gray Acura spinning through jersey walls, entering a work zone, and striking multiple workers. All six workers were pronounced dead on the scene by Baltimore County Fire Department personnel.
“That second vehicle was a Volkswagen traveling in Lane 1, the fast lane, and the Acura was changing lanes and hit the front panel of the passenger side of the Volkswagen before it lost control traveling into that work zone area,” explained Elena Russo, a spokesperson for the Maryland State Police.
The driver of the Acura was a 54 year-old woman from Randallstown who is currently being treated for injuries at the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center. The Volkswagen driver was a 20 year-old man from Windsor Mill who is reportedly uninjured and cooperating with the investigation. Neither vehicle contained passengers.
No charges have been filed at this point. State police did confirm that the slain workers were not Maryland Department of Transportation employees but subcontractors. The workers were employed by Concrete General, a Gaithersburg, Maryland-based general construction business, a company representative confirmed to WYPR.
On Thursday afternoon, police identified the six individuals killed by the crash. One 46-year-old woman from Glen Burnie, one 43-year-old man from Frederick, a 52-year-old man from Frederick, a 46-year-old man from Laurel, two related men from Union Bridge who were 31 years old and 52 years old respectively.
The Baltimore County Fire Department described the scene as "extremely serious" along the I-695 inner loop just before Exit 17, which is for Security Boulevard. Firefighters and EMS crews responded immediately to assist with rescue efforts. Traffic on 695 in all directions was closed for about three hours, creating long delays and detours.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore lamented about the crash on social media. "My heart goes out to the victims and the families affected by the tragic crash on the 695 beltway this afternoon," Moore said on Twitter. "My office is in touch with local authorities and will continue to monitor the situation." Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski issued a statement: "On behalf of all the residents of Baltimore County, we offer our sincere condolences to the families, friends, and loved ones of those who have lost their lives in today's tragic crash and my prayers remain with those injured in this horrific incident," he said.
Anyone with information relevant to the crash is asked to call the Maryland State Police Golden Ring Barrack at 410-780-2700.
Digital news editor Kristen Mosbrucker and The Associated Press contributed to this story.
