Maryland Investigators Look For Cause Of Fatal 67 Vehicle Pileup On I-95
Maryland investigators say that a viral social media video will be key to determining the cause of a 67 vehicle pileup that killed two people — including one truck driver — and left 23 injured over the weekend.
At least 2 killed, dozens injured in at least 55-car pileup, tanker explosion on I-95 in Baltimore due to freezing slippery road pic.twitter.com/WbouMMb22q
— CCTVNEWS (@cctvnews) December 18, 2016
The crash began just before 5 a.m. on Saturday in the icy northbound lanes of I-95 in Baltimore.
According to MDTA Police Lieutenant Kevin Ayd, “Approximately around 5 a.m. this morning….a tractor trailer tanker truck was traveling on the roadway, lost control of his tanker, went up on the jersey wall. Due to that elevated part of the roadway went in between the north and southbound lanes down below, on the railroad tracks that were down below. Upon impact the tanker truck exploded, started a large fire.”
SkyTeam 11 video shows the extent of the damage from this morning’s pileup on I-95 >> https://t.co/VKDpjKhh8I pic.twitter.com/ieR03ydAZ8
— WBAL Baltimore News (@wbaltv11) December 17, 2016
Police say that the tanker truck driver lost his life in the crash. One other person involved in the pileup was also killed.
Twenty-three people involved in the crash were injured. Of those, four people are listed in critical condition, two in serious condition, and one in fair condition.
All lanes of I-95 were reopened by 10:30 p.m. on Saturday.
Police say that weather conditions were a factor in the crash, but they are working to determine whether a careless driver or a problem with the structure of the overpass also contributed to the pileup.
Investigators say that viral video of the crash captured by motorist Marvellous Amasiatu will be crucial evidence in helping them to determine the cause of the crash.
Said Ayd, “It really does play a significant and key role in our investigation. What started it? What happened? We can look at it from a video standpoint. Can we tell the conditions? … That was very good footage, and key to the case we have will be that video.”
Ayd says that police will also search social media for additional videos and photos to help them learn more about the crash.
Baltimore police have requested that anyone with information on the pileup call 410-537-1208.
You can see the viral video police will be using in their investigation below, but be warned — it may be disturbing for some viewers.
This happened this morning at 1-95 Baltimore pic.twitter.com/yW0fXRiSkl
— ayo (@ayotheballer) December 17, 2016
Sources:
WCSH6
The Baltimore Sun
WBAL
CBC