Two people were killed yesterday when the car they were riding in crashed into an abandoned truck on southbound Interstate 95 near the Laurel rest area, said state police at the Waterloo Barracks.

Jose A. Benitez, 24, of Hyattsville and Martha E. Quintanilla, 17, of Takoma Park were pronounced dead at the scene after the 1985 Pontiac Grand Am they were riding in drifted off the road about 6 a.m. and crashed into a 1994 Ford Bronco that had been abandoned in the southbound median, police said.

The driver of the car, Jose Adonay Umanzor of Huntington Station, N.Y., was in critical condition last night at Maryland Shock Trauma Center, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Police said it appeared that Umanzor may have fallen asleep at the wheel.

The accident caused a two-mile traffic backup for about three hours, police said.

Pub Date: 10/12/98