HILLSBORO, Md.- Maryland state police are investigating a crash which killed three Tuesday morning, after one of the vehicles drove into oncoming traffic along Route 404 in Talbot County, Maryland.
Police have identified the three deceased as 38-year-old Brian Hutcheson of Ramer, Tennessee, 52-year-old Terry Coward of Culpepper, Virginia, and 24-year-old Danielle Mumford of Delmar, Delaware.
All three were pronounced dead at the scene by Talbot County emergency personnel. Their bodies were brought in for an autopsy. Authorities said Hutcheson and Coward were both drivers and Mumford was a passenger in Hutcheson's semi-truck.
Another passenger in a third vehicle was not injured.
A preliminary investigation conducted by the Maryland State Police CRASH Team, with the assistance of troopers from the Easton Barrack, indicates that just before 7:00 a.m. Tuesday, Hutcheson was traveling westbound on MD 404 in the area of Church Lane. For reasons unknown at this time the tractor trailer crossed the double yellow lines into the eastbound lane, side swiping Coward's tractor trailer. Hutcheson's tractor trailer continued in the eastbound lanes and struck another tractor trailer head on.
Police said after the second collision, both vehicles came to rest on the eastbound side of the road. At that time the tractor trailer burst into flames and became engulfed. The driver of the vehicle was unable to exit the vehicle to safety. Hutcheson and Mumford were unable to get out of their vehicle.
After receiving the 9-1-1 call, troopers from the Easton Barrack responded along with members from the Talbot County Sheriff's Office. Emergency medical personnel were contacted and responded to the crash to assist. Talbot County Fire Department was immediately called and responded to handle the fire.
Mumford grew up in Delmar and graduated from Delmar High.
“She was a great person, she had a great personality and she was trying to be the best mom she could be,” Jennifer Joseph, Mumford's friend said. “She worked hard all the time and overall was just a really great person, she's been my best friend since day one."
Joseph says she was with her the whole weekend just before the accident and she still can't believe she is gone.
According to Joseph, Mumford had two daughters, ages 1 and 3, who are currently in the care of their fathers. Joseph says Mumford's mother is coming into town from Mississippi to arrange funeral services.
