1 Dead, 2 Injured in Howard County 3-Vehicle Crash, 1 Driver Arrested on Scene 

Incident Information

A deadly three-vehicle crash occurred in Columbia on Monday night, leaving one person dead and two injured. According to reports, a Ford F-250 crossing the double yellow line lost control and collided with a Hyundai Elantra and a Honda Accord. 68 year old Karen Johnson Battle, driver of the Hyundai, was rushed to Howard County General Hospital, where she soon after passed. 

The incident took place on Tamar Drive around 7:24pm and also resulted in several injuries. Both the driver of the Honda and a passenger in the Ford were transported with treatable injuries to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center. Luckily, they have since been released and are expected to make a full recovery. However, the driver of the Ford, Rikelmy E. Beltran-Menjivar, did not come out unscathed. He was arrested on the scene for driving under the influence and faces grave charges that include Negligent Auto Homicide while Under the Influence and Homicide by Motor Vehicle while impaired by alcohol. 

Tamar Drive remained closed for approximately three stressful hours between Flicker Place and Phelps Luck Drive as police handled the incident.

While Police are still diligently working to piece together the rest of the events that led up to the accident, we express our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Karen Johnson Battle, and we hope for a speedy recovery for those injured. The loss of life is always a tragic event, and we hope that measures will be taken to prevent similar incidents from happening again.

Contact Baltimore Car Accident Attorneys

Multi-car accidents and chain reaction wrecks are often difficult to navigate. Those involved in these wrecks can often become involved in multiple lawsuits because several parties can be at fault. Experienced car accident lawyers can guide you through the confusing process, and they can help you prove others’ negligence. 

If you experience a car accident, contact Zirkin & Schmerling Law. We’ve helped numerous clients get the money they deserved from car accidents, and we can help you through the entire legal process. Call our office at 410-753-4611 or click here to schedule a free case consultation.