One person was found deceased in a burning vehicle.
Frederick, Md (KM) The investigation continues into a fatal, two vehicle crash in Frederick County on Thursday morning.
State Police say shortly after 3:00 AM, troopers responded to eastbound Interstate 70 at Mile Marker 60 in New Market for a two vehicle crash. Upon arriving, they found a Honda Civic engulfed in flames, and a tanker across the westbound lanes that came rest into the guardrail and on the right shoulder. “Unfortunately, the driver of that Honda Civic was pronounced deceased on the scene. The driver of the tractor trailer was transported to Frederick Memorial Hospital for his injuries,” says State Police spokeswoman Elena Russo.
She says the occupant of the Civic was taken to the State Medical Examiner’s Office to determine that person’s identity. The truck driver is identified as Dalton Ritchie, 24, of Woodbury Pennsylvania.
“Due to the incredible debris and the crash investigation, that I-70, those lanes in both directions, were shut down for almost six hours. That was an extended period of time, and certainly we had a detour,” she says. The area covered by the closure was between Route 144 (East Patrick Street) and Route 75.
Both lanes were reopened by 9:10 AM on Thursday.
The crash remains under investigation. “The preliminary investigation by our CRASH Team investigators points to the tractor trailer rear-ending this Honda Civic for some reason as they were both traveling in the same direction on I-70,” she says.
Russo says at this time, alcohol does not appear to be a factor in this crash.
By Kevin McManus