When traffic is stopped or slowed, drivers must exert extra caution in order to avoid causing an accident. It is important to monitor the speed of the vehicles ahead, so that one can adjust their own rate of travel accordingly. This requires a high degree of attention and focus, and is a driving scenario that all drivers will encounter at one point or another. Unfortunately, a recent Marylandauto accident may have been caused by a driver who failed to slow down as he approached stopped traffic.
The crash took place in Anne Arundel County on Route 50 in the eastbound lanes of travel. Upon early investigation, it appears as if traffic was stopped on the roadway due to an earlier accident. An off-duty police officer was heading eastbound in a Nissan X-Terra registered to the Takoma Park Police Department, and the driver apparently did not notice that traffic was stopped. He did make an effort to swerve to the right, but struck the rear of a Toyota Corolla.
The force of that impact caused the Toyota to crash into the rear of a Jeep Cherokee. A passenger in the Toyota, a 63-year-old man, sustained fatal injuries in the accident. Three others were also injured in the crash, including the off-duty police officer. As of the time of this report, the investigation is ongoing, and once complete the Anne Arundel State's Attorney's Office will determine if criminal charges are to follow.
The Maryland auto accident is still being investigated. However, the preliminary information suggests that the off-duty police officer failed to stop or slow his vehicle in time to avoid a collision. Should it be determined that negligence played a causal role in the matter, those injured in the crash, as well as the family of the man who lost his life, will be able to seek legal recourse by way of personal injury or wrongful death lawsuits.
Source: eyeonannapolis.net, "State Police release details on fatal Route 50 accident", March. 21, 2015
