Charges Pending In Fatal, I-81 Crash On Wed.

Five people were injured.

A Fairplay, Maryland woman was killed in a multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 81 west of Hagerstown on Wednesday afternoon. State Police say Jasmine Renee Rafter, 21, was a passenger in a Mazda 6 which was struck by a tractor trailer. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Troopers say the operator of the rig identified as John Royce Richards, 69, of Great Cacapon, West Virginia, was heading northbound on I-81 when traffic slowed. He failed to control his speed, and crashed into the Mazda. The tractor trailer continued going north, striking several other vehicles, injuring six people.

One person was flown by Maryland State Police Helicopter to Shock Trauma in Baltimore. The other five were taken by ambulance to Meritus Medical Center.

State Police say the investigation is continuing and charges are pending.

The Maryland State Police Crash Team, the State Highway Administration, the Washington County State’s Attorney’s Office and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office assisted at the scene.