(Annapolis, MD) – Maryland State Police are searching for the driver of a hit and run vehicle believed to have struck and killed a highway contract worker early this morning in Anne Arundel County.
The victim is identified as Ghassen A. Sabra, 52, of Goldsboro, N.C. He worked for Sabra, Wang & Associates, Inc., of Halethorpe, Md., a company under contract with the Maryland State Highway Administration to conduct traffic surveys. Sabra was pronounced dead at the scene.
Just before 1:00 a.m. today, Maryland State Police at the Glen Burnie Barracks were contacted by the Anne Arundel Co. fire board and notified that a Queen Anne’s County ambulance returning to its base was on the scene of a traffic fatality on eastbound Rt. 50 at Bay Dale Drive. The ambulance crew had been a short distance behind a tractor trailer that struck the victim’s body lying in lane two of the highway. They provided immediate emergency care, but the victim was deceased.
Troopers closed eastbound Rt. 50 and detours were set up by Anne Arundel County Police and State Highway Administration personnel. Investigators from the Maryland State Police CRASH Team responded and conducted the investigation.
The preliminary investigation indicates the tractor trailer, a 2006 Volvo owned by Trinity Transport of Asheboro, N.C., and driven by Ricky C. Beasley, 51, of Mt. Olive, N.C., was not the first vehicle to strike the victim. State Police CRASH Team investigators believe the victim was on foot in lane one (fast lane) of eastbound Rt. 50, either deploying or retrieving traffic counting equipment, when he was struck by a vehicle and thrown into lane two. The tractor trailer driver did not witness the victim being struck and did not see his body in the roadway until it was too late to stop.
The victim was wearing reflective clothing. A light was activated on the top of his pickup truck parked nearby on the highway shoulder.
At this time, there is no description of the vehicle that initially struck the victim. State Police and allied law enforcement agencies are searching for that vehicle and driver now. Anyone who was in the area of eastbound Rt. 50 and Bay Dale Drive between 12:30 a.m. and 1:30 a.m. today is urged to contact Maryland State Police at the Glen Burnie Barracks at 410-761-5130. Calls may be kept confidential.
State Police investigators have reviewed their investigation to this point with the Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney’s Office. No charges were filed against the tractor trailer driver. Eastbound Rt. 50 was reopened shortly before 7:00 a.m. today.
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ReplyDeleteThis is truly sad. The public needs to realize that there are more people than just in the fire and police departments that put themselves at risk. What makes this even more tragic is it was totally avoidable. There is absolutely no reason someone should be run over while at work- especially given the fact that this guy took all of the precautions required.
ReplyDeleteThis is sad. I'm also thinking this time of night might not have been the best time to be placing/retrieving a traffic counting device.
ReplyDeleteIncredibly sad. The hit-and-run ba$tard ruined multiple lives: the one he took, the poor man's family, and an innocent tractor trailer driver who has to live with the haunting specter of hitting the lifeless body.
ReplyDeleteMust have been traumatic for the emergency workers and police too.
Hope they find the s.o.b. Peace and comfort to the bereaved family and to all affected by this tragedy.