HOWARD COUNTY, Md. — Howard County Police say a man is dead after a crash late Sunday night. Investigators say the driver struck an ambulance and died at the hospital.
According to police, the crash happened around 11 p.m. on Washington Boulevard. The man was driving southbound on Washington Boulevard when he struck a Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services (HCDFRS) ambulance that was stationary with its rear yellow warning lights activated in the right turn lane for Country Meadows Lane.
The driver of the Hyundai, identified as 36-year-old Ricardo Parez of Laurel, was taken to University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center where he was pronounced dead.
Two HCDFRS personnel in the ambulance were taken to Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center where they were treated for minor injuries and released.
The investigation is active and ongoing. Police have not determined the cause of the crash.
As a reminder, it is Maryland law to move over when approaching any stopped, standing, or parked vehicle displaying warning signals – including hazard warning lights, road flares, or other caution signals including traffic cones, caution signs, or non-vehicular warning signs. If it is not safe or feasible to move over, motorists must slow to a reasonable and prudent speed that is safe for existing weather, road, and vehicular or pedestrian traffic conditions.
The law is in place to protect law enforcement, emergency responders, and any motorist that may encounter a roadside emergency and must stop near travel lanes.