The safety of a popular Great Mills flea market is being questioned after a four-car accident on the nearby busy road resulted in two injuries and stopped traffic for 45 minutes Friday afternoon.
The accident occurred just after 3 p.m. at the intersection of Chancellors Run Road and Bellvoir Road. It involved a Ford Expedition, a Ford Escort, a Honda Accord and a Dodge Dakota.
Two female occupants, one form the Escort and one from the Dakota, were taken from the scene by ambulance to be treated for injuries.
The Lexington Park and Hollywood Volunteer Rescue Squads responded to the scene with three ambulances, and the Bay District Voluteer Fire Department sent three trucks. The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office and the Maryland State Police also responded.
The sheriff’s office is still investigating the accident, since there were conflicting reports from witnesses and those involved in the accident. However, a few drivers who were stuck in traffic readily blamed the “flea market” that is set up at a nearby house every few weeks.
“It’s ridiculous, that house has [stuff] dropped off by the truckload to sell,” said John Osbourne of Great Mills “They create a traffic hazard with their parking signs and their orange cones on the both sides of Chancellors.”
“I hope this wakes up someone with county safety officials,” said a frustrated woman who declined to be named. “This flea market has to stop. It seems like every other week we have to put up with this [expletive].”
Photographer John Douglass contributed this report.