Three Die in Head-On Collision on Interstate 68

Incident Information

Three people died and two others required hospital treatment after a head-on collision on Interstate 68 in Allegany County Sunday afternoon.

Maryland State Police said troopers from the Cumberland Barrack responded at approximately 12:59 p.m. on August 30 to eastbound I-68 near Maryland Route 36.

Investigators said a Subaru Forester had been traveling westbound when, for reasons that remained under investigation, it crossed the grassy median separating the highway.

The Subaru entered the eastbound lanes and collided head-on with a Volkswagen Tiguan.

Police identified the Subaru driver as John Welin, 79, of Roscoe, Illinois. A passenger in the Subaru was identified as Karen Berneck, 81, also of Roscoe.

Both were pronounced dead.

A passenger traveling in the Volkswagen, Thomas Stevao, 25, of Centreville, Virginia, was also pronounced dead at the scene.

The Volkswagen’s driver, Patrick Kaczmarek, 25, of Clifton, Virginia, suffered injuries requiring transport by Maryland State Police Aviation Command to a trauma center.

Another Volkswagen passenger, Jacqueline Durham, 25, of Clifton, was transported by ambulance to a local hospital for treatment.

The preliminary report did not explain why the Subaru crossed the median. Police did not publicly identify impairment, excessive speed, distraction or a medical issue as a cause of this particular collision.

The Maryland State Police Crash Team is conducting the investigation.

The section of I-68 near MD-36 serves traffic traveling through western Maryland, including the Frostburg area, and a crossover collision on a divided interstate can require an extensive reconstruction investigation.

The deaths were among several fatalities recorded on Maryland roads during the final weekend of August.

Maryland Head-on Collision Lawyers

The accident described above was a dreaded head-on collision. In 2019 alone, 12,785 people died as a result of frontal impact accidents, and these types of crashes made up 57% of all fatal accidents in the United States. These car accidents can cause serious injuries such as head trauma, organ damage, paralysis, and spinal cord injuries.

If you or a loved one has suffered from an injury due to a frontal impact collision or any other type of motor vehicle crash, our team at Zirkin & Schmerling Law can fight for your rights to get you the compensation you need while you focus on caring for yourself.

Having a serious injury is a nightmare that is impossible to wake up from. The nightmare can be even worse if the insurance company offers you a low settlement that doesn’t even begin to cover all of your child’s expenses. We will fight for you.

Get a free case consultation today. Call 410-753-4611. Or contact us online.