PRINCE FREDERICK, Md. (Aug. 4, 2016)—Police in Calvert report that one person died in a 2 vehicle collision early Thursday morning. This is the third crash-related fatality in less than
two weeks in the county.
At approximately 1:29 a.m. on August 4, the Calvert Control Center received a 911 call for a serious crash at the intersection of German Chapel Road and Rt. 4 southbound. The crash involved a
2007 Chevrolet Corvette and a 2001 Mack trash truck, operated by Waste Management.
Police determined that the trash truck was in the process of making a left
turn onto German Chapel Road from northbound Maryland Route 4 when it was
struck on the right rear tandem axle by the Corvette traveling southbound on
Maryland Route 4. The investigators were able to determine that the Corvette
was traveling at an extremely high rate of speed at the time of the
collision. The collision was so violent that the Mack truck overturned onto
its left side as a result.
The driver of the Mack truck was
identified as Dennis Sierra, 57, of Naples, Maryland. Sierra was transported
to Calvert Memorial Hospital where he was treated for injuries sustained in
the collision.
The driver of the Corvette was identified as Justin
Allen Ruth, 27, of Lusby. Ruth sustained major trauma during the collision
and was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Due to the involvement of a commercial motor vehicle, heavy recovery
efforts were underway most of the night in order to remove the Mack truck
from the roadway. Waste Management officials responded to the scene and
cooperated with the Crash Reconstruction Team investigators.
Police say that based on the information available at this time, the speed
at which Ruth was driving, and possible alcohol impairment, are contributing
factors to this collision; however, the final cause of the collision remains
under investigation.
Crash Reconstruction Team (CRT) members worked through the night investigating the events that led up to the crash. Anyone who may have witnessed this crash is encouraged to contact Sgt. Bortchevsky of CRT. Sgt. Bortchevsky can be reached at 410-535-2800 ext.2540 or by email
bortchvi@co.cal.md.us.
Updated at 12:58 p.m., Aug. 4, 2016 to include names and additional details.
RELATED INFORMATION:
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