Accident – Death – Obituary News :

Driver Arrested in Hit-and-Run Accident That Killed Tree Trimmer in Maryland Work Zone

On Thursday, the police made an announcement regarding the arrest of the driver involved in a hit-and-run incident that led to the death of a contractor who was trimming trees in a work zone. The tragic incident occurred on Wednesday morning on the Beltway Inner Loop in Silver Spring, Maryland.

The Maryland State Police have identified the driver as Jadien Ranard Jones, a 39-year-old resident of Henrico, Virginia. Jones was operating a white 2021 Freightliner straight truck at the time of the crash. After intensive efforts, officials were able to locate both the truck and the driver at The Home Depot Distribution Center in Sparrows Point, Maryland on Wednesday afternoon.

According to the police, the accident took place around 10:15 a.m. when the truck was travelling eastbound through a work zone near Interstate 495 and Georgia Avenue. The truck deviated from its lane and veered into the right shoulder, colliding with several traffic cones and ultimately striking the tree trimmer. Shockingly, the driver fled the scene immediately after the incident.

The victim of the hit-and-run has been identified as Eric Lewis, a 57-year-old resident of D.C. Lewis, who was working as a foreman, tragically lost his life at the crash site, as confirmed by the Maryland State Police. He was a crew member of a mobile tree trimming operation contracted through the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration.

As of now, Jadien Ranard Jones has not yet been charged, as the investigation into the incident is still ongoing.

Following the accident, some lanes of traffic in the vicinity were initially blocked, causing temporary disruptions. However, by 2:15 p.m. on Wednesday, all lanes were reopened.

The death of Eric Lewis comes at a time when Maryland has been diligently working to enhance safety in work zones. This initiative follows a fatal crash that occurred last March on Interstate 695 near Baltimore, where six highway workers lost their lives. The State Highway Administration was subsequently cited for a “serious violation” in October in connection with that tragic collision.

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