CHARLES COUNTY, Md. — Three people are dead after a bus carrying older adults from an assisted-living facility lost control and crashed into a dump truck in Maryland.
All three occupants of the bus, two passengers and the driver have been pronounced dead. The driver of the dump truck was unharmed.
All lanes are closed in both directions on Port Tobacco Road (MD-6) between Bowie Road and Kimberly Place in Charles County. Maryland State Police are on the scene investigating what caused the bus to lose control and cross the double yellow line, colliding head-on with the dump truck.
“All I can tell you is it seems that the senior living facility bus had crossed over the double yellow line,” LT. Everett West, Maryland State Police.
The bus was carrying two women and one man. The man was just over 80 and the two women were in their 60s, according to Maryland State Police Lt. Everett West. Police have not said which of the occupants was the driver.
“A witness who saw the truck drive by informed us, the dump truck did not appear to be speeding or driving erratically in any way,” Lt. West explained.
West said they do not believe either the driver of the bus or the dump truck were affected by any impairment.
“Unfortunately in something like this it’s not the speed as much as the weight of the dump truck (which) contributed heavily to the stopping power (of the accident),” Lt. West said.
This is an ongoing investigation. WUSA9 will update as more information becomes available.