April 21st, 2019 by WCBC Radio

Two women had to be extricated from their vehicles after a head on crash on Interstate 81 just inside the Maryland line Saturday morning. One car had spun into the opposite lane, and drivers from Martinsburg and Hagerstown were transported to Meritus Medical Center for treatment. Alcohol and distracted driving are not suspected as factors.

Type of Incident: Vehicle Collision/Road Closure

Date and Time:  4/20/2019 5:35 AM

Location: S/B lanes of I-81 at the 1 Mile Marker

Vehicle(s):

1.  2002 Nissan Maxima
2. 2014 Jeep Compass
3. 2016 Toyota Camry  

 

Driver(s):

1.  Kimberly Lakes (48 years of age) of Martinsburg, WV
2. Patricia Degrange (74 years of age) of Hagerstown, MD
3. Pum Gin (44 years of age) of Frederick, MD

Investigation reveals that Kimberly Lakes was facing the wrong way on southbound I-81 at the 1 mile marker in a 2002 Nissan Maxima after apparently losing control and spinning around.  She was struck head-on by Patricia Degrange, who was traveling southbound in a 2014 Jeep Compass.  This pushed the 2002 Nissan into the concrete wall and back into a traffic lane, where it was struck again by Pum Gin, who was driving a 2016 Toyota Camry. 

Lakes and Degrange were both trapped inside their vehicles and needed to be freed by responding Fire/EMS departments.  Both were injured and transported to Meritus Medical Center. Alcohol use and distracted driving are not considered to be factors in this crash.  The roadway was detoured down the ramp for MD Rt. 68 and back to southbound I-81 for approximately 2 hours.