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On the evening of May 4th shortly after 9 o’clock that evening, 9-1-1- Dispatchers took reports of a serious accident on Route 64 for a serious vehicle accident with injuries. Emergency crews from Smithsburg Fire Company 7 and Smithsburg EMS Company 79 were immediately dispatched out at 21:13 hours. As units responded, additional reports came in reporting the accident to be head-on.

Smithsburg Fire Chief Steve Lewis arrived on the scene first quickly followed by Smithsburg EMS. They arrived to find to mangled vehicle sitting side by side. Chief Lewis confirmed head-on with one Priority 1 Trauma still entrapped in the vehicle. Smithsburg crews conducted a rapid extrication on the priority 1 who’s condition was worsening.

Crews were able to have her extricated by 21:28 hours. After extrication, the 70 year old patient rapidly deteriorated and Command reported a Trauma Code to dispatch who in turn pre-alerted the trauma center. Smithsburg EMS worked the patient up with full ALS and transported to Washington County Trauma where the patient was later pronounced deceased.

The 71 year old driver of the second vehicle involved walked away from the incident with no apparent injuries and refused treatment and transport by Smithsburg EMS against medical advice from their crew. The second driver was taken in to custody by Maryland State Police. It was found that the second driver was intoxicated well above the legal limit. One of the charges pending among many was Homicide by motor vehicle.

Once fire company operations were wrapped up and all hazards were removed, Chief Lewis terminated Command and released the remaining units on the scene around 22:49 hours that night.