Driver Slams Into Utility Pole, Dies In Fiery Crash On Route 450
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WJZ) -- In Annapolis, a fiery crash claims a life and shuts down power. It happened before dawn at the intersection of Route 450 and the Ridges Gateway.
Alex DeMetrick reports there is a preliminary cause.
It happened at the wooded edge of Annapolis about 4 a.m. Monday, and it took BGE crews all morning to fix.
A pole hit by a car brought down lines.
Lost electricity brought police.
"They actually went there for the report of a power outage. Once they got there, they found a vehicle fully involved," said Lt. T.J. Smith, Anne Arundel County Police.
When the fire was put out, a body was found. It's not clear whether electricity or the collision started the fire.
"Unfortunately, it hit the pole and everything came down and something caught fire," said Crow Hostetter, BGE crewmen.
It burned so hot, investigators could not immediately determine the victim's sex.
"Our early investigation shows that the driver was traveling at a high rate of speed, appears to have lost control of the vehicle, slamming into the pole and the fire ensued afterwards," said Smith.
"People got to realize the road's wet. They need to slow down. And this unfortunate accident probably didn't need to happen," said Hostetter.
A final determination about how this accident happened is still under investigation.
"We owe it to the family to find out what exactly occurred, and why this loved one was lost," said Smith.
About a mile of Route 450 was kept closed for hours following the crash, first for investigators, then for BGE repair crews.
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