Investigators say that eight people were injured in a collision that involved at least five vehicles and forced the closure of Route 29 in Scaggsville near Johns Hopkins Road. The accident affected traffic in both directions but began in the northbound lanes around 4:45 p.m. on Sept. 9.
Although an investigation is still underway, police say that a 29-year-old man was speeding and driving erratically in a northbound Honda Pilot and ran into a Honda Crosstour and a Honda CR-V. Then the Pilot struck the median guardrail, which sent the SUV airborne. When the vehicle came down, it landed on a southbound Dodge Ram and travelled into a trailer attached to a Ford pickup truck. Officials had to close the entire section of highway in both directions until 8 p.m., directing traffic around the scene in the meantime.
Authorities say that multiple occupants were ejected from the Dodge Ram when it overturned, and emergency crews had to extricate others from a different vehicle. The Pilot driver was treated at and released from Shock Trauma in Baltimore, where his two 31-year-old passengers were also hospitalized. The 31-year-old Dodge Ram driver and his three passengers were transported to Howard County General Hospital for treatment. The fourth Ram passenger, age 37, was admitted at Shock Trauma in critical condition. The drivers of the Crosstour and CR-V were unharmed, as were the three people in the Ford pickup.
When people are injured in a motor vehicle accident that involves several vehicles, they may choose to file a lawsuit together against the person who is responsible for causing the crash. Seeking the guidance of a lawyer might make the claims process easier for the plaintiffs. If the lawsuit is successful, the resulting compensation could help them recover the cost of medical care and lost wages related to the collision.
Source: WBAL, “6-vehicle crash shuts down U.S. Route 29 in Howard County “, Saliqa Khan, September 10, 2014
