the Mercedes had struck three vehicles in lane one of the outer loop of I-95/495 and was driving on the fast shoulder about one and one-half miles south of the trooper’s location.

(WYE MILLS, MD) – In what may be one of the more incredible decisions by a Maryland prosecutor, the truck driver who police said ignored almost all rules which apply to traffic safety will only be charged with payable fines instead of being charged with manslaughter, which could have led to jail time.

The initial police report stated that the Jeep was traveling eastbound on Rt. 50 and turned north/bound onto Sixty Foot Road and was in the process of crossing Rt. 50 at about 7:40 pm. The police reported that the Mazda was traveling westbound on Rt. 50 when it t-boned the Jeep in the passenger side of the vehicle in the intersection. Police said that alcohol was not a factor but in the case of fatal wrecks, a blood sample taken from both drivers is required and that test would determine whether any drugs or alcohol were in the systems of either operator, even though the initial observations of the troopers on the scene reveal no obvious signs of substances.

(FREDERICK, MD) – Maryland State Police report that three people are dead following the mid-air crash of a small plane and a helicopter that occurred this afternoon in Frederick.

WJLA reporter Jay Korff reports that NTSB officials said that the unique parachute system saved the lives of the two men in the airplane.

The three deceased victims are identified as Christopher D. Parsons, 29, of Westminster, MD, William Jenkins, 47, of Morrison, Colorado, and Breandan J. MacFawn, 35, of Cumberland, MD. Investigators have determined all three men were on-board the helicopter. Who was piloting the helicopter has not been verified at this time.

The two persons in the airplane are identified as Scott V. Graeves, 55, of Brookeville, MD, and Gilbert L. Porter, 75, of Sandy Spring, MD. Both had been taken by ambulance to Meritus Medical Center in Hagerstown, MD, but were released from the hospital this evening. Graeves was the pilot of the airplane and Porter was his passenger.

Maryland State police report that they are investigating a crash which claimed the life of a male driver late this morning, after the vehicle he was driving went over the bridge embankment and landed in the park below.
The deceased is not being identified at this time pending positive identification from the medical examiner’s office and notification of next of kin. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency medical personnel.