Largo, MD — A 59-year-old woman from Washington, D.C. was killed Monday afternoon after a tire broke loose from a pickup truck on Interstate 495 and crashed into her vehicle, triggering a violent wreck that ended with her Lexus slamming into a concrete barrier and guardrail.

Tammy Lynn Edwards was pronounced dead at the scene after the freak accident near Medical Center Drive around 1:50 p.m., according to Maryland State Police.

Investigators say a rear driver-side tire detached from a northbound Dodge Ram 1500, flew into the southbound lanes, and struck Edwards’ Lexus NX200t. The impact sent her vehicle careening off course before it hit the barrier and guardrail.

Troopers from the Forestville and College Park barracks responded, along with EMS and highway crews. The occupants of the Dodge Ram were not injured, police said.

The Maryland State Police Crash Team is handling the investigation into how and why the tire came off the vehicle. The Maryland Department of Transportation assisted with managing road closures while the scene was cleared.

No charges have been filed at this time. The investigation remains ongoing.

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Key Points

Woman killed after detached tire from pickup struck her Lexus on I-495
Tire came from Dodge Ram and hit vehicle in southbound lane, causing fatal crash
Maryland State Police Crash Team investigating how tire came loose

A deadly chain reaction on I-495 started with one flying tire and ended in tragedy for a D.C. woman.

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