One Dead Following Five-Vehicle Crash Thursday In Washington County

A Georgia man was charged in connection with the crash.

Hagerstown, Md (KM) A Hagerstown woman is dead, and a Milledgeville, Georgia man is charged following a five-vehicle crash Thursday  on Interstate 70 in Washington County.

At around 5:00 PM, state troopers with the Hagerstown Barrack were dispatched to westbound I-70 at Beaver Creek Road near Hagerstown for the crash. They say a tractor trailer operated by Ray Pittman, 62, failed to slow down in heavy traffic. His vehicle struck the rear of a Ford operated by Morgan Suter, 27, of Hagerstown. She was pronounced dead at the scene. The impact from that collision caused the Ford to strike the rear of a Buick. That caused the Buick to then strike a Mercedes and a Honda.

The operator of the Buick, Cheri Craigo, 55, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, and the driver of the Honda, Connie Monte, 61, of Hagerstown, were both  taken to Meritus Medical Center for treatment of their injuries.

Following consultation with the Washington County State’s Attorney’s Office, State Police say Pittman has been charged with two counts of vehicular manslaughter, two counts of driving while impaired, and one count of homicide by motor vehicle. . He’s currently being held without bond at the Washington County Detention Center.

The crash closed that section of I-70 for about five hours.

The Maryland State Police Crash Team is leading the investigation into this accident.

By Kevin McManus