A farmer was killed Wednesday morning when the tractor he was ridingfell on top of him while he was trimming brush, police reported.
Maryland State Police and paramedics were called to the farm at 4808 Baughman Mills Road about 8:56 a.m.
They found Robert L. Dell, 47, pinned under the wheels of his John Deere farm tractor. Dell was pronounced dead as a result of multiple injuries at the scene.
Investigators ruled the death accidental.
MAN KILLED IN ACCIDENT
WINFIELD -- A Woodbine resident was killedearly Wednesday morning when he was thrown from his car after it overturned on Gillis Road, state police said.
Timothy C. Peach Jr., 25, apparently was traveling eastbound on Gillis Road at about 2:00 a.m., according to police investigators.
They said Peach, driving a 1991 Dodge Daytona, was alone when he apparently lost control of the car, crossed the center line, struck a mailbox and an embankment, andoverturned.
Peach, who was not wearing a seat belt, was thrown from the car. Police said he suffered massive head injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police investigators said excessive speed was the cause of the accident, but ruled out alcohol as a factor. If he had been wearing his seat belt, police said, he probably would have survived the crash.
To date this year, Carroll County has hadfour fatal traffic accidents, as compared with one last year, according to state police.
FIRE DESTROYS HOUSE
PLEASANT VALLEY -- A Thursday afternoon fire did extensive damage to a Pleasant Valley house, fire officials reported.
The two-alarm blaze at 1223 Woods Road displaced the family of Brian Saunders Sr.
Fire officials said Saunders returned home to find smoke billowing from the windows of the house. At the same time, a neighbor also noticed the smoke and called for firefighters.
Firefighters from Pleasant Valley, Westminster, Taneytown, Reese and Littlestown, Pa., responded to the fire. Fire officials said it took about 10 minutes to get the blaze under control.
The fire was confined to a crawl space under the first floor of thehouse, but heat and smoke damaged the interior of the house.
Fireofficials are looking into the cause of the blaze.
PLANS TO ENFORCE LAW
Maryland State Police will begin enforcing the state's commercial drivers license law beginning May 1, according to Capt. Raymond D. Cotton, commander of the commercial vehicle enforcement division.
Drivers must have a valid commercial license to operate a vehicle with a gross vehicle weight of over 26,000 pounds, a passenger vehiclecarrying more than 16 people, or a vehicle carrying hazardous waste.
Exempted vehicles are those designed primarily for recreation use, farm machinery, emergency equipment or military use.
In Maryland, approximately 100,000 drivers must qualify for the commercial vehicle license. Police warned that the deadline for taking the examination will not be extended.
COUNTY IS SELLING GUNS
The Carroll County government has asked for bids on 16 guns that were confiscated by theSheriff's Department over the past few years.
Thomas F. Crum, thecounty's chief purchasing agent, said this is the first time the county has sold guns, but that it is following procedures used by the state police.
"We are only selling to licensed dealers," Crum said.
Asked why the county doesn't destroy these weapons, Crum said the government "is trying to raise revenue, and selling them is a legal way of disposing of them."
The weapons, which range from a BB gun to handguns, will be sold to the highest bidder.
The deadline for submitting bids is April 10, Crum said.
WASTE EXERCISE SLATED
The county Local Emergency Planning Committee is planning a hazardous-material training exercise this fall.
The county's Hazardous MaterialsSteering Material is expected to supervise the exercise.
Members of the committee said they would like to have an outline for the exercise by their May meeting.
The committee also heard that county commissioners have received a survey from the federal government to determine how familiar elected officials are with their emergency planning organizations.
Committee members have scheduled their next meeting for 1:30 p.m. April 27 in Room 300A of the County Office Building, North Center Street, Westminster.
CONTACTING FIRE STATIONS
Fire protection is provided by 14 fire companies, reached through Central Alarm by dialing 911 or 848-1488.
Direct telephone access to the 14 stations is as follows:
* Gamber and Community, 795-3445.
* Hampstead, 374-2424.
* Harney, 756-6464.
* Lineboro, 374-2197.
* Manchester, 374-4259.
* Mount Airy, 829-0100.
* New Windsor, 635-6373.
* Pleasant Valley, 848-1977.
* Reese and Community,848-7172.
* Sykesville-Freedom, 795-9311.
* Taneytown, 756-6253.
* Union Bridge, 775-7422.
* Winfield and Community, 795-1333.
* Westminster, 848-1800.
CRIME OF THE WEEK
WESTMINSTER -- Crime Solvers, a volunteer group that assists area police, is asking residents to help solve the Crime of the Week.
This week, the group is looking for the person who committed a robbery in early February.
The suspect robbed and assaulted a woman as she was getting into her car at 9 p.m. Feb. 11. The car was parked near a back entrance to Carrolltowne Mall in Eldersburg.
The suspect distracted the woman, and when she turned toward him, he grabbed her purse.
Police describe the suspect as a while male, 5-foot-10, with dark hair long in the back.
The man, who is thought to weigh approximately 150 pounds,is said to have a thin build. He was wearing a black leather jacket,dark jeans and a T-shirt.
He was observed running from the scene toward Gemini Drive.
If you have any information about this crime or possible suspects involved, call Crime Solvers at (800) 562-TIPS.
You do not need to give your name and if your information leads toan arrest, you could earn up to a $1,000 reward.
Please report crime tips to these hot lines: 857-TIPS (drugs) and (800) 562-TIPS (Crime Solvers). All calls are confidential and you do not have to give your name.
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Here is a compilation of some of the crime reportedto local and state police:
Manchester
Bachman Road: Westminster
Police arrested Jule Dee Covey, 20, and charged her with drivingwhile intoxicated on March 26.
Sykesville
Courtland Drive: Maryland State Police arrested Gregory W. Shaffer, 22, and charged him with driving an uninsured vehicle, possession of drugs, and driving while intoxicated on March 27. He was released after posting a $3,000 bond.
Westminster
Liberty Street: Westminster Police reported that somebody shot a BB through the front window of County Wide News onMarch 24.
Logan Drive: Westminster Police served a criminal summons on Earl Nobles, 19, charging him with trespass and battery on March 25.
Valley Bend Drive: Westminster Police arrested Monroe William Case Bell, 24, and charged him with driving while intoxicated on March 25. He was released on his own recognizance.
E. Main Street: Westminster Police arrested John Henry Harless Jr., 43, of no fixed address, and charged him with breaking and entering, malicious destruction and trespassing on March 26.
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Here is a compilation of thefire and rescue calls to the Emergency Operations Center:
March 24
6:14 p.m., Pleasant Valley and Taneytown responded to a trailer fire on Arters Mill Road.
11:21 p.m., Mount Airy responded to a house fire on Debkey Court.
March 25
9:31 a.m., Gamber, Sykesville and Winfield responded to a chimney fire on Poole Road.
1:41 p.m., Lineboro assisted Baltimore County on a brush fire on West Ruhl Road.
3:07 p.m., Pleasant Valley and Westminster responded to a chimney fire on Hughes Shop Road.