UPDATE – 8:30 p.m. 3/22/2015
WASHINGTON – Three people are now confirmed dead following Saturday’s multi-vehicle accident on Route 50 in Anne Arundel County.
Susannah Badders, 19, and Jason P. Simpkins, 19, were flown to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center after the collision. Maryland State Police say Susannah Badders and Simpkins were pronounced dead Sunday.
Badders’ father, 63-year-old Raymond Badders, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.
Maryland State Police said Raymond Badders was a passenger in the rear seat of a Toyota Corolla driven by Susannah Badders. Simpkins was seated in the front passenger seat.
On Saturday, troopers said the crash happened when a Nissan X-Terra, driven by Travis M. Ala, swerved into the Corolla, causing the vehicle to overturn and collide with another vehicle. The X-Terra is registered to the Takoma Park Police Department, where Ala is employed. He was off-duty at the time of the crash, and officials said Sunday that he is on administrative leave.
No charges have been filed at this time. The investigation is ongoing.
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Previous:
WASHINGTON — One person is dead and several others were injured after an accident on Route 50 in Anne Arundel County on Saturday afternoon.
The accident closed the highway for nearly six hours and caused significant delays.
The crash occurred on the eastbound lanes of Route 50 near Route 665/Aris T. Allen Boulevard around 2:45 p.m. Maryland State Police say the driver of a 2011 Nissan X-Terra, driven by Travis M. Ala, swerved into a 2007 Toyota Corolla, causing the vehicle to overturn and collide with another vehicle.
A passenger in the rear seat of the Corolla, identified as Raymond Badders, 63, of Manchester, Maryland, was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the vehicle, Badders’ daughter, and another passenger were flown to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center. The extent of their injuries is unknown. The medevac lifted off the highway around 3:30 p.m.
Maryland State Police say the vehicle that Ala was driving is registered to the Takoma Police Department, where Ala is employed. He was off-duty at the time. Ala was transported by ambulance to Anne Arundel County Medical Center, where he was treated and released.
An accident occurred earlier Saturday afternoon, causing delays on the eastbound lanes of Route 50 near Route 450 in Parole. Police say Ala apparently did not observe the backup in time to allow him to stop. He swerved into the merge lanes from Interstate 97, where he collided with the Corolla that was stopped in heavy traffic.
Traffic on Route 50 East and Interstate 97 South was diverted toward Riva Road past the accident investigation during the afternoon. The backup on Route 50 extended from Route 424 toward the accident at Aris T. Allen Boulevard, over six miles. The highway was reopened at 8:30 p.m.
No charges have been filed. A detailed crash investigation and reconstruction will be conducted by the State Police Crash Team.
