GBMC Doctor Known For Daily Jogs To Work Critically Injured When Hit By Car

TOWSON, Md. (WJZ)—A Towson doctor is in critical condition. Police say he was hit by a car while jogging to work.

Christie Ileto has the latest details.

Dr. Theodore Houk made it his routine to jog to work every day. But Thursday, Baltimore County police say he never made it past Charles Street at Chestnut Avenue.

Police say he jogged into a traffic lane and was hit by a 65-year-old driver signaling a turn onto Chestnut.

"I'm totally devastated. I've seen him run past the house every single morning for years," said Dan Walko, neighbor.

The 50-year-old doctor's neighbors and colleagues are still trying to make sense of the accident that has him in critical condition at Shock Trauma.

"One of shock certainly," said Joe Hart, director of spiritual support. "One of our beloved colleagues, he's very loved by his patients and very well known to us."

The GBMC physician is also known to Towson commuters for his daily jogs along Charles Street to work with a briefcase in hand.

"I don't know if this day was any different day than any other day. I would assume he was in his usual attire and carrying his equipment and his lunch with him as he usually did," said Dr. Neal Friedlander, GBMC chairman of the Department of Medicine.

Houk has been on GBMC's medical staff since 1992 but maintains a private internal medicine practice in the 7400-block of York Road.

While police investigate Thursday morning's accident, you can see Charles Street isn't just heavily traveled by motorists, but joggers and cyclists.

"There's plenty of shoulder," explained Bill Kalis, cyclist. "Sometimes the left, right turning cars are a problem, but it's not really that bad."

While Houk fights for his life, an outpouring of well wishers flood the hospital's Facebook page.

Patients and staff are writing messages, such as "sending prayers up for him and his family" and "hope he has a speedy recovery."

"I hope he survives. It's a tragedy because we know his family walking past the house all the time, and the many children he has. It's hard to understand," Walko said.

Police say the driver who hit the physician remained at the scene. No charges have been filed at this time.

The crash remains under investigation.