South Carolina Man Loses Life After Tragic Interstate Collision
A South Carolina resident, involved in a devastating road accident caused by an abrupt lane change on the I-81 near Halfway this month, has succumbed to his injuries, according to Maryland State Police.
Sudden Lane Change Shocks Traffic Flow
The unfortunate incident occurred on the afternoon of July 6, on the southbound lanes of I-81, near Interstate 70. Scott Cutting, a 66-year-old gentleman from Lexington, S.C., was behind the wheel of a 2016 Ford Transit when a 2009 Acura MDX, also heading south on I-81, reportedly shifted lanes and collided with his vehicle.
Forceful Impact with Concrete barrier
According to preliminary investigations by the state police, the lane change made by the Acura MDX sent the Ford van veering left, leading to a violent crash into a concrete barrier and a support pier. The collision was reported around 3:40 p.m by a number of the motorists, traveling on the same stretch of highway.
Emergency Rescue and Hospitalization
Upon receiving the accident alerts, Maryland State Police aviation was deployed to the scene and Cutting was promptly airlifted to the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center at the University of Maryland in Baltimore. A passenger in the van, who also sustained injuries from the crash, was transported to the nearby Meritus Medical Center in Hagerstown and thankfully has been released, according to spokesperson Ngan Ho.
Driver of Acura Remains on Scene
Dishearteningly, Cutting couldn’t recover from the severe injuries sustained in the crash and passed away in late July. In the meantime, the Acura MDX driver whose lane change led to the accident remained at the scene. The identity of the driver has been kept confidential at this stage of the investigation.
The Maryland State Police are looking into the factors leading to this devastating accident and will provide further details once the investigation is complete. No charges have been filed yet against the Acura driver, pending crime investigation report.
