A five-car accident on Route 231 in Hughesville Tuesday morning left one car on fire and three drivers seriously injured.
According to a Maryland State Police report, Robert Charles Hall Jr., 20, of Mechanicsville was traveling east on Route 231 in a white 2005 Dodge Truck near Siesta Fields Place in Hughesville at 6:20 a.m. while passing in a no passing zone.
As Hall attempted to return to the eastbound lane, he struck a silver 2002 Lexus E-300, driven by Elvis Michael Ward, 48, of Randallstown, and lost control. Hall went into an uncontrolled spin, traveled into the westbound lanes and was struck by a silver 2004 Mazda Tribute, driven by Clara Diane Gilley, 47, of Mechanicsville.
William Joseph Johnson, 53, of North Beach was traveling behind Gilley, and his white 1999 Chevrolet Tracker rear-ended Gilley’s car.
After Hall was struck by Gilley, his truck continued in the westbound lane and struck a blue 2003 BMW X3, driven by Joseph Leslie Hardin, 46, of Hughesville, who was slowing to avoid the collision.
Hall’s truck then caught on fire, but he was able to escape.
Hall and Gilley received incapacitating injuries and were flown to P.G. General Hospital by Maryland State Police helicopter Trooper 2. Ward received minor injuries and was taken via ambulance to Civista Medical Center in La Plata. Johnson received incapacitating injuries and was flown to P.G. General Hospital by MED Star helicopter Eagle 2.
Hardin recieved no injuries and was not transported.
Police said charges are pending against Hall and consider speed and driver error to be factors in the collision.