Pedestrian Killed, MdTA Worker Injured While Changing Tire on Route 152 in Joppa

(Joppa, MD) – A pedestrian was killed and a civilian worker with the Maryland Transportation Authority Police was injured while assisting a motorist on the shoulder with a disabled vehicle.

The deceased victim is John Scott, 54, of the 2700 block of Laurel Valley Garth in Abingdon, Maryland. Scott responded to the scene as a good Samaritan to aid the motorist with a flat tire. He was driving a Chevy S-10 pickup and parked in front of the disabled vehicle on the shoulder of northbound Route 152, where the incident occurred.

The second victim is identified as Walter Feick, 41, of the 1900 block of Bennett Road in Aberdeen Maryland. Feick is a Vehicle Recovery Technician with the Maryland Transportation Authority Police and was on duty at the time of the incident. He was driving a Dodge pickup truck and also responded to the scene to help. He was transported by ambulance to the R Adams Crowley Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore where he remains in stable condition.

The identities of the two others involved in the crash are being withheld due to the ongoing investigation. These identities include the operator of the vehicle with a flat tire and the operator of a vehicle that lost control and slid into the disabled vehicle.

Just before 9:30 a.m. today, Maryland State Police from the Bel Air Barracks were dispatched to the scene of a traffic crash on the northbound shoulder of Route 152 in Joppa, near the I-95 southbound ramp. The preliminary investigation indicates a motorist operating a 2004 Pontiac, four door passenger vehicle pulled onto the shoulder of Route 152 after experiencing a tire blowout on the drivers side of the vehicle.

After parking the disabled vehicle about ten to fifteen feet off of the roadway, the motorist called Scott for assistance. Scott arrived close to the same time Feick arrived to the scene. Together, they began working to replace the blown out tire.

For unknown reasons at this time, a motorist driving a 2001 four door Volkswagen exited from the I-95 southbound ramp onto Route 152, heading northbound when she lost control and skidded into the disabled vehicle. Police believe Feick and Scott were on the driver’s side of the vehicle working on the tire and the owner of the disabled vehicle was in the backseat at the time of the incident.

The owner of the disabled vehicle and the operator of the Volkswagen refused medical treatment at the scene. Scott was pronounced deceased at the scene and Feick was transported by ambulance with non life threatening injuries.

Troopers from the Bel Air Barrack and JFK Highway Barrack responded to the scene. Sheriff Deputies from the Harford County Sheriff’s Office also responded. Personnel from the State Highway Administration assisted with traffic detours. The ramp from southbound I-95 to northbound Route 152 was closed for three and half hours.

Troopers from the Bel Air Barrack will lead the investigation as it continues.