A head-on collision on U.S. 50 west of Annapolis early Saturday morning left four people injured — one with life-threatening injuries — a Maryland State Police official said.
State police said alcohol was a factor in the crash, which occurred about 4:45 a.m. near the intersection with Interstate 97. A vehicle traveling in the wrong direction on the westbound side of U.S. 50 struck a Ford Mustang with three occupants head-on, causing the car to flip over.
Police described the driver of the eastbound vehicle, a Nissan Altima, as a 36-year-old male from Temple Hills, and said charges of driving while intoxicated and other counts were pending. They would not name him because the charges had not yet been filed.
The two passengers in the Mustang had recently arrived in the U.S. from Thailand, said police, who provided no additional details about them or their visit. Both were taken to the Maryland Shock Trauma Center by helicopter. A 20-year-old woman had life-threatening injuries, and a 22-year-old man was seriously injured as well. An Anne Arundel County fire official had earlier said the male passenger's injuries also were life-threatening.
The driver of the Mustang, a 21-year-old man from Virginia, was taken to Anne Arundel Medical Center in Annapolis. He had serious but not life-threatening injuries. Police said they did not know the relationship between the three occupants of the Mustang.
The driver of the Nissan was also taken to Anne Arundel Medical Center with neck and back injuries.
State police closed down a section of westbound U.S. 50 near I-97 but reopened it by midmorning.