Maryland State Troopers from the Frederick Barrack have investigated a car crash that left one man dead.
At about 3:35 a.m. the Frederick Barrack received a phone call notifying them that there was a vehicle traveling eastbound in the westbound lanes of MD Route 340 in the area of Lander Road. Troopers searched the area and could only see debris. However, after continuous searching, the vehicles were found on the westbound Route 340, east of Horine Road.
Early in the investigation it was revealed that vehicle #1, a 2010 Hyundai Elantra, was traveling eastbound on MD Route 340 in the westbound lane #1. Vehicle #1 hit vehicle #2, a 2011 Nissan Rouge that was traveling westbound on Route 340 in Lane #1, head on.
The driver of vehicle #1, 45-year-old Robert R. Watkins, of Hagerstown, Md., was pronounced dead at the scene. The passenger of vehicle #1, 45-year-old Ann Howdyshell, of Frederick, Md., was taken to Meritus Medical Center Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The driver and sole occupant of vehicle #2, 45-year-old Eric Berryman, of Strasburg, Va., was also taken to Meritus Medical Center Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
After investigating the collision, the Maryland State Troopers with the Frederick Barrack determined that Watkins may have been under the influence of alcohol and that both he and Berryman were driving while revoked.
The westbound lanes of Route 340 at Horine Road were closed for several hours for investigative purposes.
