Fiery crash leaves child, adult ‘seriously’ hurt in Burtonsville

Two people were taken to the hospital after a crash on Old Columbia Pike in Burtonsville, Maryland, on March 16, 2021. (Courtesy Montgomery County Fire and Rescue)(Courtesy MCFRS/Pete Piringer)

A child and adult are in the hospital after their car crashed into a utility pole Tuesday morning in Burtonsville, Maryland.

Montgomery County firefighters responded to crash involving a single vehicle into a power pole around 1 a.m. on Old Columbia Pike, south of Spencerville Road.

First responders arrived to find the car engulfed in flames. Fire department spokesman Pete Piringer said the car sheared the pole, causing electrical wires to fall and set it on fire.

He added that the adult and child were seriously injured and transported to a hospital for treatment.

On Twitter, Piringer said firefighters waited about an hour for a utility crew to de-energize the affected wires. Many in the neighborhood lost power soon after the crash.

The WTOP Traffic Center reports Old Columbia Pike is closed both ways between Md. Route 198/Spencerville Road and Briarcliff Manor Way as of 5 a.m. due to an ongoing crash cleanup.

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.

Below is a map of the area:

WTOP’s Alejandro Alvarez contributed to this report.

Luke Garrett

Luke Garrett is a D.C. native dedicated to journalism. He is a reporter and the creator, host and producer of the original WTOP podcast, “DMV Download.” The podcast debuted in 2022. On the show, Garrett takes a weekly look at the biggest stories and ideas in the D.C. region.

Federal News Network Logo
Log in to your WTOP account for notifications and alerts customized for you.

Sign up