UPDATE – On Tuesday, May 31, 2022, at approximately 1133 hours, Troopers from Maryland State Police La Plata Barrack responded to United States Route 301 (Crain Hwy) in the area of Turkey Hill Road for a report of a serious motor vehicle collision. Due to the circumstances, the Maryland State Police CRASH Team responded to assume the investigation.
A preliminary investigation conducted by Troopers from the MSP La Plata Barrack and the MSP CRASH Team indicates a 2012 Chevrolet Suburban operated by Judith Hall Bayless, (51 yoa) of Alexandra, Virginia was attempting to make a left turn from northbound United States Route 301 onto Turkey Hill Road.
At the same time, a 2012 Lincoln MKX operated by George Bernard Thomas Jr, (88 yoa) of Pomfret, Maryland was traveling on southbound United States Route 301 in the area of Turkey Hill Road. For unknown reasons, the Chevrolet failed to yield to oncoming traffic and entered the southbound lanes. The Chevrolet collided into the driver side of the Lincoln. After the collision, the Lincoln collided with a guardrail, became airborne and came to rest in a ditch/culvert.
Mr. Thomas Jr was pronounced deceased on the scene. The operator of the Chevrolet, Mrs. Bayless was transported by ambulance to the University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Center with non- life threatening injuries.
UPDATE – Rt. 301 (Crain Highway) southbound in the area of Turkey Hill Rd is now open in all directions.
LA PLATA, Md. – On May 31, at approximately 11:32 a.m., police, fire and rescue personnel responded to a serious motor vehicle accident with two trapped at the intersection of Crain Highway and Turkey Hill Road.
Crews arrived on the scene and found the vehicle collision with extensive damage. One subject was heavily trapped and a dog in the vehicle.
Emergency personnel requested a MEDEVAC for one patient. Shortly after MSP Trooper 2 was canceled after the patient was reported deceased at the scene; their identity is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
The second patient was transported to Charles Regional Medical Center.
The road will be shutdown in the area of the accident for an extended period of time for police to conduct crash reconstruction.
Use caution in the area.
We will continue to provide updates as they become available.
Contact our news desk at news@thebaynet.com
that is horrible news! prayers to the family. that road is a hazard and the county needs to do a better job at fixing the routing.
How about people slow and yield to the traffic they are attempting to crossover, she cause the accident that took this mans life, the road didn’t cause it
Just do it. No need to speed. No need to look at the phone. It’s our responsibility to be aware of what’s ahead of us
No. Its the road. There needs to be a light there AND people need to slow down there. Most people that get in an accident there die. Wake up and please get off the phone.
So is it the phone or road? It’s all the drivers fault…PAY ATTENTION!
What about the dog 😢
I cannot imagine! that poor dog was probably trying to save his/her best friend and the dog could not do that. it is such a tragedy. there is a dog park there so I just cannot imagine…
The dog was unharmed and moved to an animal shelter
Very sorry for life taken people need to slow down and what there action are don’t be such are rush
I arrived at the location around noon. I experience several potential mishaps where drivers were quiet darring as they navigate the roads.
This is so sad. I know accidents happen but everyone needs to keep eyes on road not on phone etc. I live in Fredericksburg Virginia and we have a lot of construction stuff going on. People need to slow down and take your time. If your going somewhere leave even earlier if you need to. Better to arrive alive and not killed.
He was only going to get gas in order to attend his last grandson’s graduation that evening. She made a horrible mistake that cost a man his life. While his family is devastated, their faith will see them through.
I personally, have requested Safety Improvement’s, at that Intersection, for many year’s, to the District 5 Traffic Engineer, Simon Chacha. As recently as Februaty, I suggested Advisory Signage, (Black on Yellow), be erected for Southbound Driver’s, to be aware of this dangerous Intersection. Driving South on Crain Highway U. S. Route 301, approaching Turkey Hill Road, is extremely scary, when out of the left side, blocked by a hill mound on the left side,
a vehicle appears, at speed, seeming to be able to cross into the Highway without stopping. This sudden appearance, initially experianced by myself, 10 year’s ago, caused an instantaneous fear of unavoidable collision, and the sudden urge to slam on the brakes, or swerve into the adjacent lane, hoping it to be unoccupied. Since then, I personally have requested additional Traffic Control Devices (TCD), be placed, to prevent these sudden shock’s, that I am certain, occur to other Drivers, especially those unfamiliar with the knowledge that Turkey Hill Road Vehicles, are supposed to use the Right Lane, as a Merge Lane, along the Southbound 301 Shoulder.I have lived in this area for 10 year’s, travel thru that Intersection enough times to see the Black Tire Mark’s on the Pavement, Bent and Distorted Guard Rail alongthe Merge Lane, and as of yesterday, a huge Dark Spit inthe Roadway, which I just discovered, was caused by a Fatal Collision, due to a Vehicle crosding the Southbound Lanes, from Northbound Lane Turn Lane, to access Turkey Hill Road. Advisory Sign’s have been erected, only as Black Road Titles, on Yellow background’s, on both sides of the Northbound Lanes, which do not indicate the actual design, with Arrow’s, of that Intersection, as Black Lines on a Yellow background. Southbound Lane Vehicles turning to travel onto Washington Avenue, had so many Collision’s, and presumed Injuries, Property Loss and Permanant Disability and Fatalities, that Action was demanded to place a Stop Light there. This Intetsection has a Crosding Design that is not the usual Perpendicular Type, but demands Vehicles that cross over the 55 MPH Highway, have to climb an incline, from the Northbound Direction, on a Diagonal, which takes linger to get safely across, while Douthbund Vehickes are aporoaching on a decline. He Mayland State Police Barracks, only 1 Block away, advised me to go Online, to discover how many Incident’s have occurred there, as I try to have some simple protection’s put in place. Specifically, and exasperationally, have given The Traffic Engineer competent advice on what to do. Aside from erecting a 4 Way Traffic Light, and realigning the Intersection for Perpendicular Traffic Flow, I suggested erecting Advisory Dignage for Southbound Driver’s to alert to te intersection, eith Arrow Directioning of Turkey Hill Road Vehicles Dierection 9f flow, and, to erect a Stop Sign to bring Turkey Hill Road vehicles to a Stop, thus, eliminating the “at speed” shock that Southbound 301 Dtiver’s ecperiance, and, place a concrete barrier that prevents Turkey Hill Road vehicles from failing to follow the right turn merge lane, and, to Paint Yellow Lines that separate the Northbound 301 Vehicles that cross over the Southbound Lanes onto aturkey Hill Road, from entering into the outbound Turkey Hill Road lane. I have bern a Profesdional driver as a Career, in the Military, as delivery Driver, and as Tractor Trailer Driver, across the U.S.A. and have sern plenty of Intersection’s. The intellent improvement idea’s presented here, and to Mr. Chacha, are common sensual. How many close call’s have ocurred in this killing zone, that are soon forgotten, and when will my suggestion’s, of more Signage, Painted Lines and a Physical Barrier, be taken into consideration, before government initiates a remedy? I rest my Case.