A weekend accident on Route 50 in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, claimed the life of four people, according to the Maryland State Police. Three of the victims, all in the same car, were teenagers. It is not yet known what caused the auto accident.
Police said the teenagers were headed in the wrong direction on Route 50 at about 3:30 Saturday morning. Their car hit another car that was going in the correct direction head-on. According to police, the driver of that car--a 55-year-old man from Severna Park, Maryland--died as he was being transported to the hospital.
The impact caused one of the vehicles to catch fire. Killed at the scene were the driver of the wrong-way car, an 18-year-old man, and his two passengers, a 19-year-old woman, and an 18-year-old woman. The crash led to Route 50 to be closed for several hours in the eastbound lanes.
While the basic facts of the case are known, much remains to be determined. Results of toxicology tests of the drivers have yet to be released. It may be impossible to ascertain if the driver of the car that crossed the center line was distracted by his passengers or if he was drowsy or fell asleep. Since the accident happened in the middle of the night, all of those at least seem possible.
In any case, four families must now cope with the loss of loved ones. While no amount of money can bring them back, an attorney experienced in car accident and wrongful death cases may be able to help them obtain some level of compensation for their losses.