PIKESVILLE, MD. – Seven people were killed in four crashes across Maryland over the weekend, including a mother and daughter struck by a wrong-way driver on Interstate 270 and three people killed in a head-on collision on Interstate 68, Maryland State Police announced Monday.
The deadly crashes occurred Saturday and Sunday in Carroll, Montgomery, Harford and Allegany counties. State police said impairment may have contributed to three of the four crashes, although the investigations remain active and ongoing.
Victims ranged in age from 21 to 81. Several other people were injured, including an 8-year-old girl, and one survivor was flown to a trauma center following the I-68 collision.
Key Points
- Seven people died in four separate Maryland crashes Saturday and Sunday.
- Police believe impairment may have been a factor in three crashes, including the wrong-way I-270 collision.
- Three people died Sunday when a Subaru crossed the I-68 median and collided head-on with a Volkswagen, investigators said.
Wrong-Way I-270 Crash Kills Mother and Daughter
The first fatal crash happened at approximately 2:14 a.m. Saturday on northbound Maryland Route 91, also known as Emory Road, before Hollingsworth Road.
Troopers from the Maryland State Police Westminster Barrack responded after a Volkswagen Jetta left the roadway and struck an embankment, according to the preliminary investigation.
The driver, Garrett Reid Luber, 21, of Hampstead, was pronounced dead at the scene. State police said they believe impairment may have been a factor.
Hours later, another deadly crash unfolded on Interstate 270 in Montgomery County.
At approximately 6:46 p.m., troopers responded to southbound I-270 just south of Democracy Boulevard. Investigators said a Ford Mustang was traveling north in the interstate’s southbound lanes when it slammed head-on into a Toyota Camry.
Musammat Shamima Begum, 46, and her daughter, Areebah Jahin, 23, were passengers in the Toyota and died in the crash. State police identified them as residents of Burke and Alexandria, Virginia.
The Toyota’s 62-year-old driver and an 8-year-old girl riding in the vehicle were transported to local hospitals for treatment. The Mustang’s driver and sole occupant, Jose Caballero Nolasco, 32, of Germantown, was also hospitalized.
Police said impairment may have contributed to the I-270 crash. The investigation remains ongoing.
Sunday Crashes Claim Four More Lives
Another fatal collision occurred at approximately 4:14 a.m. Sunday at Maryland Route 152 and Maryland Route 147.
According to the preliminary investigation, a Toyota 4Runner was traveling south on Route 147 when it ran a red light and struck the front passenger side of a Volkswagen Jetta traveling north on Route 152.
The Volkswagen’s driver, Christopher Larry Grimsley, 40, was pronounced dead at the scene. Toyota driver Todd Dunaway, 27, was taken by ambulance to a hospital for treatment.
State police again said impairment may have been a factor.
Several hours later, a fourth deadly crash was reported on eastbound I-68 at Maryland Route 36.
Investigators said a Subaru Forester was traveling west on I-68 at approximately 12:59 p.m. when it crossed the grass median for an unknown reason, entered the eastbound lanes and collided head-on with a Volkswagen Tiguan.
Subaru driver John Welin, 79, and passenger Karen Berneck, 81, both of Roscoe, Illinois, died. Thomas Stevao, 25, of Centreville, Virginia, who was riding in the Volkswagen, was also pronounced dead at the scene.
Volkswagen driver Patrick Kaczmarek, 25, of Clifton, Virginia, was flown by Maryland State Police Aviation Command to a trauma center. Passenger Jacqueline Durham, 25, also of Clifton, was taken by ambulance to a hospital.
Maryland State Police Investigations Continue
The Maryland State Police Crash Team is leading the four active investigations. Police have not announced final determinations on the causes of the crashes.
State police urged drivers to avoid impaired, distracted and aggressive driving and excessive speeds.
“Never drive distracted, aggressive, at excessive speeds, or impaired – one decision can change or save a life,” Maryland State Police said.
How many people died in the four Maryland crashes?
Seven people were killed across four crashes Saturday and Sunday in Carroll, Montgomery, Harford and Allegany counties.
What happened in the wrong-way I-270 crash?
State police said a Ford Mustang was traveling north in the southbound lanes when it struck a Toyota Camry head-on, killing mother and daughter Musammat Shamima Begum and Areebah Jahin.
Do police believe impairment was involved?
Maryland State Police said impairment may have been a factor in three of the four crashes. The investigations remain active and no final conclusions were announced.
Sources: Maryland State Police news release, Aug. 31, 2026; preliminary crash investigations released by Maryland State Police.
