From the Maryland State Police, Bel Air Barrack:
(Bel Air, MD) Troopers from the Bel Air Barrack responded to a single vehicle collision at approximately 3 p.m. Saturday that occurred near the ramp leading from Rt. 924 (Rock Spring Road) to the southbound Route 1 Bel Air Bypass. The vehicle involved was a Ford Ranger pickup operated by Michael Leroy Jackson, 65 years old, of Street, MD. Preliminary investigation revealed that the Ford pickup was traveling northbound on the Route 1 Bypass, crossed the centerline and the southbound lanes of the Route 1 Bypass. The pickup then entered the southbound roadside, near the ramp, where it collided with a tree.
The operator, Mr. Jackson, was pronounced deceased at the scene by medical personnel.
The roadway/ramp was closed for approximately one hour and forty-five minutes while troopers/reconstruction specialist investigated the collision.
The accident remains under investigation.
NOTE: An earlier version of this story erroneously stated the day the accident occured, due to incorrect information provided by law enforcement authorities.
sharkey36 says
Glad to see that center line rumble strips and mandatory headlight usage prevented this crash. This is not to say that the driver did not have a medical emergency that may have caused this crash, but what if someone traveling the other direction was struck and injured/killed???
Observant... says
What do you suggest the State should do to make the Bypass safer?
Phil Dirt says
This one’s easy – two lanes each way (complete the job started over 40 years ago), and replace the light at Route 24 (to the mall) with an overpass.
sharkey36 says
There has to be some sort of physical barrier. Rumble strips and mandatory headlight usage *may* alert a distracted driver…they sure aren’t a defense to an out of control vehicle/impaired driver/driver with a medical emergency.
MW says
I will never understand why this short strip of the bypass (between vale/rocks spring rd) is so dangerous and deadly over the past 5 or so years.. I understand the high rate of speed increases the odds of a fatality but its not as if there’s anything tricky going on here.
Coincidence and bad luck I guess.
king of common sense says
Construction of the median is in the planning process. The mandatory headlights and rumble strip were just temporary fixes until all of the preparation could be done on the concrete divider.
Observant... says
I like that idea about the signal at Route 24. I’ve seen a few rear end accidents there from people speeding and / or not paying attention.
Andi Smidth says
My thoughts and prayers go out to Mr. Jackson’s family. I thought I’d share http://www.deathletters.org to them as it might help to know there are people who are going through the same ordeal.