Deadly crash involving three tractor-trailers shuts down I-70 in Howard County for hours
WEST FRIENDSHIP, Md. — A fatal collision early Wednesday morning led to the closure of eastbound I-70 in Howard County for nearly eight hours, creating significant traffic disruptions and prompting a major emergency response, including a Medevac helicopter.
According to Maryland State Police, 38-year-old Joshua Donta Wilson of Grand Prairie, Texas, died at the scene. Investigators say the crash occurred just after 6:30 a.m. between Exit 76 (MD-97) and Exit 80 (MD-32), when Wilson’s Mack truck rear-ended a tractor-trailer. That truck then struck another Freightliner truck carrying wooden roof trusses, which spilled onto the highway.
No additional injuries were reported. The crash remains under investigation by the Maryland State Police Crash Team, assisted by the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division. The Maryland Department of Transportation helped with traffic redirection and cleanup.
Traffic was detoured off I-70 at MD-97 and rerouted back onto the interstate at MD-32. The cause of the crash is still being determined.
