Small Plane Crashes, Hits Car Along Highway In Bowie, Maryland
BOWIE, Md. (WJZ) -- A small plane crashed on Route 50 in Bowie, Maryland Thursday morning after the pilot allegedly misjudged the landing. Prince George's County Fire spokesman Mark Brady tweeted the aircraft went down near Freeway Airport.
Fire officials said the plane hit a car as it crashed in the eastbound lanes of Route 50 near Church Road. Four people were injured, but the pilot, Julius Tolson Jr., 58, of Laurel, and the passenger of the plane, Michael Garrah, 57, of Columbia, Md., refused transportation to a hospital but were treated at the scene.
"The plane had two people, the vehicle had two people," Maryland State Police Sgt. Davaugh Parker said. "Everyone was assessed by medics at the scene. Further investigation will come from the FAA."
The two people in the silver sedan, Ryan McClain, 29, of Washington D.C., and his passenger, Eric Diprospero, 31, of Baltimore, were treated at the scene and then taken to an area hospital.
Maryland State Police troopers responded around 11:20 a.m. to the crash at Route 50 and Church Road. Investigators believe the plane's operator was attempting to land at Freeway Airport nearby and misjudged the landing.
All lanes were re-open after the plane was removed from the roadway just before 4 p.m.
The exact cause of the crash has yet to be officially determined. Preliminary reports indicate neither drugs nor alcohol was a factor in the crash.
Chopper was over the scene as crews worked to clear the roadway.
On Twitter, Gov. Larry Hogan thanked first responders for their quick action.
"We are relieved that there were no life-threatening injuries after a small plane crashed on Route 50 this morning," he said.
