Three Injured In Frederick Co. Crash

Three people were injured this morning in a Frederick County crash on I-70, including a nurse who stopped to help the crash victims and fell from the bridge into the Monocacy River.

The injured are identified as Charles H. Williams, 53, of Baltimore, Md., who was driving a dump truck loaded with concrete, Douglas L. Sexton Jr., 58, of Sparrows Point, Md., who was driving a tractor trailer loaded with asphalt, and Angela M. Weir, 47, a nurse at the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center, who stopped to help the crash victims. Williams and Weir were both flown by Maryland State Police helicopters to the UM Shock Trauma Center where they are undergoing treatment. Sexton was transported by ambulance to Meritus Hospital for treatment.

At 4:44 a.m. today, the Frederick Barrack received a call from a motorist reporting a commercial truck was traveling westbound on I-70 without any lights illuminating the truck. Minutes later, as troopers attempted to locate the truck, a tractor trailer loaded with asphalt struck the rear of the dump truck while both were traveling westbound on I-70 at the Monocacy River bridge.

After impact, the tractor trailer struck the right concrete wall of the bridge before jack-knifing and catching fire. The dump truck overturned and spilled much of its load of concrete. Both vehicles and the debris field stretched across the width of the bridge, requiring troopers to close the westbound lanes of the interstate.

Angela Weir and her husband were traveling eastbound on I-70 when they saw the crash that had just occurred. Being a trauma nurse, she stopped to assist in providing emergency care to the crash victims. Apparently unaware there was no median between the east and westbound lanes at the scene, Weir fell more than 75 feet into the Monocacy River when she leaped over the bridge wall to attempt to cross to the westbound lanes and the crash scene. Her husband called 911 immediately. A responding trooper pulled her from the water to shore. A Maryland State Police flight paramedic arrived simultaneously and assisted with her care before she was flown from the scene.

Witnesses told investigating troopers the dump truck was traveling westbound at a very slow speed and had no lights illuminating the truck. The investigation into the cause of the crash is continuing. Charges are pending.

Personnel from the Maryland Department of Transportation’s State Highway Administration CHART team responded quickly and established detours around the area. SHA engineers responded to inspect the bridge. Maryland State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division personnel responded and are inspecting the commercial vehicles involved and assisting with the investigation. State Police motorcycle troopers also assisted with traffic control.

Temporary jersey walls have been put in place on the bridge by the SHA. The roadway was closed from shortly before 5:00 a.m. until just before 8:30 a.m. today.