La Plata Head-On Crash Causes Vehicle Entrapment

Incident Information

LA PLATA, Md. — Emergency crews responded late Saturday night to a severe head-on collision at the intersection of Hawthorne Road and Ripley Park Drive, where multiple victims were trapped and required extensive extrication. One patient suffered critical injuries, went into cardiac arrest, and was transported in trauma code status to Charles Regional Medical Center.

The crash was reported around 9:21 p.m. on October 18, 2025. Dispatchers received multiple 911 calls describing screaming at the scene and one victim “bleeding from the mouth” and “in bad shape.” Callers also reported significant vehicle damage and victims trapped inside.

When first responders arrived, they found two heavily damaged vehicles and at least one person pinned inside. Incident command was established, and extrication efforts began immediately.

A 30-year-old man initially prepared for air transport went into cardiac arrest in the ambulance, prompting medics to cancel the helicopter and rush him to Charles Regional Medical Center under Priority 1 trauma conditions. A 20-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman were both taken to the same hospital in stable but serious condition (Priority 3).

Extrication was completed around 9:41 p.m. Maryland State Police later requested a light tower to assist with the on-scene investigation, and the intersection remained closed for several hours. Command was cleared at approximately 10:23 p.m.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

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