A man is dead and five people were taken to the hospital after a two-car crash in Montgomery County, Maryland, on Saturday morning.
The crash happened on Ridge Road just after 7:15 a.m., just outside of Damascus, Montgomery County Police said in a news release.
Officers arriving at the scene of the crash found a silver Ford Transit van and a black Chrysler Pacifica minivan.
Montgomery County police say a man riding in the Chrysler died on the scene. The driver’s side of the vehicle was torn apart from the impact. The other car involved was a work van.
The identity of the man who died has not been released yet.
“I was getting ready to work, and we heard like a big crash,” said Haley Sames, who lives nearby. “I heard sirens come; they were really fast.”
The crash happened on ridge road near cedar grove elementary just outside Damascus, Maryland just before 7:30 a.m. Saturday.
Police said there were a total of five people in the black minivan: the man who died and four others, including a child. There was one person in the work van.
The five people who survived were taken to the hospital.
“I just wonder like how did that happen? It’s not a very busy road and there’s an elementary school like right down there, so I’m wondering how fast they were going. Were they distracted?” Sames said. “And obviously my heart goes out to the families and everyone impacted.
Police have not said whether speed or anything else played a role in the crash yet. However, just down the road from where it happened, News4 noticed a road sign reminding drivers to slow down.
The crash forced many to detour.
“It’s sad. It’s unfortunate especially on a beautiful Saturday morning like this. I pray for the families,” said Narsa Lecho, a truck driver from Ohio.
The section of ridge road where the crash happened was closed for about three and half hours as police investigated. They are still trying to determine what caused the crash.
News4 also reached out to the company listed on the work van and is waiting to hear back.
