Police investigate 6 fatal incidents in past 24 hours
There have been six fatal incidents on state-maintained roadways in Maryland in the past 24 hours.
"Last night was a very, very bad night on the roadways. We've had some very serious crashes resulting in fatalities," State Highway Administration spokesman Charlie Gishlar said.
The SHA said the six incidents were reported in Cecil, Carroll and Prince George's counties. The six crash victims included a pedestrian, a bicyclist and a tow truck driver.
"All of these crashes were preventable. We don't know what happened yet. Police agencies are going to be evaluating each one of these crashes," Gishlar said.
"We do know that one of those crashes involved the use of a cellphone, so this weekend, keep a lookout for drivers around you because, with the increase of traffic this weekend, the risks are higher," Maryland State Police spokeswoman Elena Russo said.
According to the Maryland Department of Transportation, people drove 2 billion more miles on Maryland roads over the last two years thanks to low gas prices and other economic factors.
"I think the common theme is probably summer. This is the most dangerous time to drive," Gishlar said.
The fourth phase of a yearlong, statewide safety initiative started Friday, which means there will be additional state troopers deployed across Maryland highways.