Car Accident: One Firefighter Injured on Interstate 495

Incident Information

A Montgomery County firefighter was injured early Friday morning on the Capital Beltway when a driver, suspected of being under the influence, disregarded lane closures and struck him.

The incident occurred around 3 a.m. on the Inner Loop of I-495 near University Boulevard. The 54-year-old firefighter was transported to a trauma center for treatment.

Earlier, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue personnel, along with Maryland State Police, had responded to a crash involving a tractor-trailer and a Lexus sedan at about 2:40 a.m. Several lanes of the highway had been blocked off with traffic cones, flares, and two marked police vehicles with emergency lights on, according to authorities.

Approximately 20 minutes later, a BMW sedan driver sped through the closed lanes, crashing into two empty police vehicles before hitting the firefighter, police said.

Photos released by state police show significant damage to a trooper’s SUV, with all airbags deployed.

The driver, identified as 45-year-old Alberto Zurita, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence. The investigation is ongoing.

Contact a Maryland Car Accident Attorney Right Away

After a car accident, your primary focus should be on your health and safety. Call 911 first and foremost, and ensure that they send first responders to treat any injuries you might have. After you are safe and your injuries have been taken care of, you should seek help from an attorney right away. An experienced attorney will help you gather any evidence you need to prove driver negligence and support your claim or lawsuit.

Car accidents can be traumatizing and difficult to navigate. At Zirkin & Schmerling Law, we have years of experience helping car accident victims get the settlement they deserve.

Contact us or call us at (410) 753-4611 to set up an appointment with one of our experienced Baltimore car accident lawyers today.