TWO VOLUNTEER MONTGOMERY CO. EMS PERSONNEL INJURED WHEN STRUCK AT CRASH SCENE

(ROCKVILLE, MD) – Two volunteer Montgomery County emergency medical services personnel were injured early today when they were struck by a vehicle while assisting injured persons at a crash scene on I-495.

The EMS personnel are identified as volunteer Glen Echo Fire Department EMT Thomas E. Schryver, 26, and EMT Sydney E. Marshall, 19. Both were transported to Suburban Hospital.

The driver of the striking vehicle is identified as Maximillano A. Curcho, 34, Clarksburg, Md. He was also transported to Suburban Hospital.

At about 12:15 a.m. today, troopers from the Rockville Barrack were dispatched to the inner loop of I-495 at River Road, Rockville, Md., for the report of a crash in which two county rescue personnel had been struck. The preliminary investigation indicates the two EMTs had responded to a previous crash and were attending to patients inside a 2014 Toyota Corolla that was on the right shoulder of the inner loop of I-495 at River Road. A county ambulance was also on the shoulder with emergency lights activated.

The investigation indicates Curcho was approaching the scene, operating a 2005 Ford F-150. For reasons unknown at this time, Curcho apparently lost control of his vehicle, skidded across two lanes of I-495 and onto the shoulder. The pickup struck the Toyota in the rear and struck both EMT personnel. The pickup then struck the ambulance before coming to rest.

The persons in the Toyota were transported to MedStar Hospital for treatment. It is not currently known if they sustained additional injuries in the second crash.

The Maryland State Police Crash Team is conducting the ongoing investigation. Nothing has been ruled out at this time as a possible cause of the crash. No charges have been filed at this time, pending the outcome of evidence analysis and the crash investigation. Anyone who may have witnessed this crash is urged to contact the Maryland State Police Rockville Barrack at 301-424-2101.

The roadway was snow covered when the crash occurred. Due to the investigation, the roadway remained closed for about 5.5 hours.