OCEAN CITY, MD – A quiet Thursday morning in Ocean City turned tragic when a 65-year-old man was fatally struck while riding his motorcycle through a busy intersection on U.S. Route 50, leaving investigators to piece together what caused the deadly collision.
Dennis Ellis of Berlin was riding westbound on his motorcycle just after 10 a.m. when a Jeep Grand Cherokee reportedly failed to yield at the intersection of Route 50 and Inlet Isle Lane. The impact threw Ellis from his bike. Emergency crews rushed him to TidalHealth Peninsula Regional, where he was pronounced dead.
The Jeep, driven by a 17-year-old male and carrying an 18-year-old female passenger, remained at the scene. Neither was injured in the crash. The teen driver was issued traffic citations on site, though specifics on the violations have not been released.
The crash triggered a significant response, including personnel from the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office, Ocean City Fire Department, and local EMS units. Lanes along Route 50 were temporarily closed as Maryland State Police began their investigation.
Preliminary findings suggest Ellis was proceeding through the intersection with the right of way when the Jeep entered the path of his motorcycle, causing a direct collision. The incident is now under full review by the Maryland State Police Crash Team, who are working to determine if additional charges will follow.
Investigators have not indicated whether weather, speed, or impairment played any role in the collision. The names of the teen driver and passenger have not been disclosed due to their ages.
Funeral arrangements for Ellis, a known local resident, are pending.