5 Vehicle Collision on Branch Ave. Leaves One Dead; Mechanicsville Man at Fault

All southbound lanes of Branch Ave. were closed for approximately six hours

CLINTON, Md. (Nov. 1, 2016)—Md. State Police report that a 5 vehicle crash Monday afternoon resulted in one death. The accident occurred at approximately 12:31 p.m. on southbound Branch Ave. south of Woodyard Rd. in Clinton. Police say initial reports indicated two commercial vehicles were involved, and a passenger car was on fire with the driver trapped inside. Margaret Omoyiwola Fadojutimi, 52, of Cheltenham, suffered traumatic injuries from the collision and was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The following vehicles and individuals were involved:

1. 2015 Ford Box Truck, driven by Blake Allen King, age 21, of Mechanicsville;

2. 2008 Toyota Camry, driven by Margaret Omoyiwola Fadojutimi, age 52, of Cheltenham;

3. 2007 Freightliner Box Truck, driven by Craig Russell Balderson, age 45, of Charlotte Hall;

4. 2015 Hyundai Sonata, driven by Paul Gregory Watson, age 32, of Severn; and

5. 2016 Land Rover Range Rover, driven by Michael Eugene Daniels, age 49, of Brandywine.

The preliminary investigation revealed that vehicles 1, 2 3 and 4 were traveling southbound Route 5 in lane #1 (the left-most lane). Traffic was stop and go at the time, due to an earlier collision. Vehicle 1 failed to reduce speed to avoid a collision and struck the rear of vehicle 2. Vehicle 2 then struck vehicle 3. Vehicle 3 subsequently struck vehicle 4. Vehicle 2 then caught fire and the driver was trapped in the vehicle. Vehicle 1 then overturned and struck vehicle 5 which was in lane 2. All of the vehicles came to rest throughout all travel lanes of southbound Route 5. Vehicle 1 came to rest on the right shoulder of southbound Route 5.

The driver of vehicle 2, and lone occupant, Ms. Fadojutimi, was pronounced deceased at the scene by Prince George's County Fire / EMS and a forensic investigator from the Medical Examiner's Office.

The driver of vehicle 1 (Blake Allen King) was transported to Prince George's County Hospital. The driver of vehicle 5 (Michael Eugene Daniels) was transported to Medstar Southern Maryland Hospital. All other drivers and passengers refused medical treatment at the scene.

MSP CRASH Team units responded to the scene. SHA responded to assist with traffic control. MSP Aviation was utilized to assist CRASH Team with their investigation. All southbound lanes were closed for approximately six hours.

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