Maryland State Police and State Highway Administration personnel are on the scene of a fatal crash on eastbound I-70 in western Washington County. Shortly before 2:30 a.m. Maryland State Police at the Hagerstown Barrack were called out to a crash scene reported on eastbound I-70 at exit 3, in Hancock. When they arrived troopers found a passenger car and a tractor trailer involved in the crash.
The Maryland State Police Crash Team responded to conduct the investigation. The preliminary investigation indicates the passenger car was traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes and collided with the eastbound tractor trailer. The tractor trailer then struck a bridge abutment.
The tractor trailer was hauling grapes. The debris field caused by the crash is extensive and covers all lanes of eastbound I-70. The investigation and cleanup will require the eastbound lanes of I-70 to be closed through the morning.
State Highway Administration personnel responded and set up a detour that directs eastbound I-70 traffic off at Rt. 522. Traffic travels through the town of Hancock and again accesses eastbound I-70 on the east side of the town.
The investigation is continuing.