A bizarre tandem of accidents on Interestate 95 in Princ George's County early yesterday left two people dead and one truck driver unhurt but badly shaken, according to Maryland State Police at Forestville.
Ralph Ellis of Germantown, the tractor-trailer driver, was moving south on I-95 near Route 4 at about 2:35 a.m., police said, when a 1984 Oldsmobile, also moving south, suddenly changed lanes, cut in front of his truck, and slowed down. Unable to swerve or brake fast enough, the truck, carrying appliances for Montgomery Ward, ran over the car, demolishing it. The driver of the car, Marvin Osborne, 51, of Oxon Hill was killed.
Both vehicles then skidded to a stop near a wooded area.
It was then that a second 1984 Oldsmobile, driven by Robert Britt, 46, of Mount Ranier, hit the rear of the trailer protruding onto the highway, according to TFC Timothy Nelson, who investigated the accident. Mr. Britt was also declared dead at the scene.
Trooper Nelson said an open bottle of whiskey was found in the car run over by the truck, and suspected narcotics were found in the second vehicle.