COLLEGE PARK, Md. — A fatal crash involving a tractor-trailer on the outer loop of the Beltway in the area of U.S. Route 1 in Prince George's County caused the area to shut down early Friday morning, Maryland State police said.
The crash happened just before 4 a.m. in the area of Interstate 95 at Route 1 in College Park. All lanes were shut down and traffic was being diverted onto Route 1. Traffic was backed up for miles. All lanes reopened around 8:30 a.m.
The driver of a Chevrolet Traverse spun out and crossed in front of a tractor-trailer that was traveling in the right lane, police said.
The driver of the tractor-trailer, identified as 60-year-old Leroy Ritchie, of Capitol Heights, was not able to avoid crashing with the SUV, police said. The SUV then went across all of the lanes on the road and into the concrete median.
Three men were trapped inside of the SUV and had to be pulled out by responding emergency crews. The SUV's front seat passenger, 47-year-old Linh Khuong, of Silver Spring, was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. He has not yet been identified.
The two other victims, 49-year-old Hoang Nguyen and 49-year-old Duoc Vo, both of Silver Spring, were taken to a hospital for their injuries. The extent of their injuries was not yet known.
Ritchie, however, was not injured according to police.
While the cause of the crash has not yet been determined, authorities believe it may be weather-related.
Neither of the drivers were impaired, according to the investigation. The crash remains under investigation.