MARYLAND (WBFF) — Maryland State Police are investigating four deadly crashes that left seven people dead and others injured over the weekend.
Around 2:15 a.m. on August 29, troopers from the Maryland State Police Westminster Barrack responded to MD-91 northbound before Hollingsworth Road for a report of a single-vehicle crash.
A preliminary investigation indicated to authorities that a Volkswagen Jetta had traveled off the roadway and struck an embankment.
The driver of the vehicle, identified as Garrett Luber, 21, of Hampstead, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. Police believe that impairment may have been a factor in the crash.
On August 29 around 6:45 p.m., troopers from the Maryland State Police Rockville Barrack responded to the area of I-270 southbound just south of Democracy Boulevard for a report of a two-vehicle crash.
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Police believe that a Ford Mustang was traveling northbound in the southbound lanes of I-270 when it struck a Toyota Camry head-on.
Musammat Begum, 46, and Areebah Jahnin, 23, of Burke and Alexandria, Virginia, were killed. The mother and daughter were passengers in the Toyota.
The driver and a juvenile passenger were transported by ambulance to local hospitals for their injuries.
Police said the driver of the Ford, identified as Jose Nolasco, 32, of Germantown, was taken to a hospital for his injuries, as well. Authorities believe impairment was a factor in this crash, and Nolasco was arrested.
On August 30 around 4:15 a.m., troopers from the Maryland State Police Bel Air Barrack responded to MD-152 and MD-147 for a report of a two-vehicle crash.
Authorities said that a Toyota 4Runner was traveling south on Route 147 when it ran a red light and struck the front passenger side of a Volkswagen Jetta that was traveling north on Route 152.
The driver of the Volkswagen, Christopher Grimsley, 40, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. The driver of the Toyota, Todd Dunaway, 27, was transported by ambulance to a local hospital for treatment of his injuries.
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Police believe impairment may have been a factor in this crash, as well.
Around 1 p.m., troopers from the Maryland State Police Cumberland Barrack responded I-68 eastbound at MD-36 for the report of a two-vehicle crash.
Authorities said that a Subaru Forester was traveling westbound on I-68 when, for unknown reasons, it crossed the grass media and entered the eastbound lanes, where it crashed head-on into a Volkswagen Tiguan.
The driver of the Subaru, John Welin, 79, of Illinois, and a passenger, Karen Berneck, 81, of Illinois, were pronounced dead at the scene.
A passenger in the Volkswagen, Thomas Stevao, 25, of Virginia, was also pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver of the Volkswagen, Patrick Kaczmarek, 25, of Virginia, was flown by Maryland State Police Aviation Command to a local trauma center for his injuries. Another passenger in the vehicle was taken to a hospital for treatment of her injuries.
Maryland State Police’s Crash Team is investigating each of the crashes.
Authorities said they urge all drivers to make safe choices behind the wheel, and that one decision can change or save a life.
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