CALLAWAY, Md. (Dec. 5, 2014)—A Chesapeake Beach man is dead after the 2001 Dodge Dakota truck he was driving was forced into an accident by the driver of a 2014 Ford F-150. Joseph David Fernandes, 28, succumbed to his injuries at Calvert Memorial Hospital after the accident.
Police place the majority of the blame for the accident on the driver of the Ford, Ryan M. Douglas, 22, of Waldorf. Police say "driver error and failure to yield the right of way by Douglas are major contributing factors to this collision." Douglas sustained minor injuries.
However, an examination of the Dodge Dakota revealed that Fernandes was not wearing his seatbelt, which contributed to the extensive injuries sustained by him during the collision, say police.
On Thursday at approximately 5:35 p.m., members of the Calvert County Sheriff's Office Patrol Bureau and Crash Reconstruction Team responded to the area of 6200 North Solomons Island Road (MD Route 2-4) in Sunderland in response to a report of the crash. Preliminary investigation revealed that the 2001 Dodge Dakota was traveling southbound on MD Route 2-4 (North Solomons Island Road) in the area of the China King Restaurant when the 2014 Ford F-150 entered the southbound lanes of MD Route 2-4 in an attempt to make a U-turn. The Dodge struck the Ford on the right rear axle causing both vehicles to travel to uncontrolled final rest on the southbound shoulder of MD Route 2-4.
The Ford F-150 was also occupied by a front seat passenger, Jonathan M. Douglas, 23, of Waldorf, who sustained minor injuries. Both occupants of the F-150 were transported to Calvert Memorial Hospital, where they were treated for their injuries and released.
Cpl. T. Phelps of the Calvert County Sheriff's Crash Reconstruction Team is conducting the investigation into the events leading up to the collision. Anyone with additional information regarding the incident is asked to contact Cpl. T. Phelps of CRT at 410-535-2800 or via e-mail at phelpsts [at] co.cal.md.us.