Nightmare on the Beltway: ‘Metal stake’ strikes driver on Outer Loop

A driver was extricated from a vehicle on the Capital Beltway on Nov. 26, 2019. (Courtesy MCRFS/Pete Piringer)

Tuesday morning’s commute took a terrifying turn for a woman driving on the Capital Beltway’s Outer Loop when a piece of metal debris flew through her windshield and nearly impaled her.

Initially, Montgomery County, Maryland, fire personnel said the driver was impaled through her chest with a metal, stake-like object. Montgomery County Fire and Rescue spokesman Pete Piringer said later that further assessment revealed she was not impaled and only sustained minor, impact-related wounds.

Police and first responders were dispatched to the Outer Loop between Md. Route 355 and Connecticut Avenue around 6:15 a.m. They found a woman trapped in a minivan, where the windshield and steering wheel had been pierced with a metal object 3 feet long and 4 inches wide.

Aerial footage from WTOP’s news partner NBC Washington showed rescue workers using hydraulic equipment and a buzzsaw to break through the wreckage, shielding the woman from sparks and providing life support, before she was freed and transported to a trauma center.

As of 8 a.m., the woman’s condition was considered serious but stable.

For the latest road and traffic conditions, see WTOP’s traffic page or listen to updates every 10 minutes online or on the air at 103.5 FM. Submit traffic tips by calling 866-304-WTOP or tagging @WTOPtraffic on Twitter.

Alejandro Alvarez

Alejandro Alvarez joined WTOP as a digital journalist and editor in June 2018. He is a reporter and photographer focusing on politics, political activism and international affairs.

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