LEONARDTOWN, MD – A tragic crash in Leonardtown claimed the life of a 66-year-old man on Wednesday afternoon, prompting authorities to shut down a major roadway for more than two hours.
Maryland State Police from the Leonardtown Barrack responded to reports of a pedestrian crash around 4:22 p.m. at the intersection of Maryland Route 5 (Point Lookout Road) and Maryland Route 4 (St. Andrews Church Road).
The victim has been identified as James Michael Lacey. According to a preliminary investigation, Lacey had parked his Chevrolet Colorado on the northbound shoulder of MD Route 5 with its emergency flashers activated for unknown reasons. While he was outside his vehicle, a Chevrolet Silverado, driven by a 33-year-old man, veered off the road and struck both Lacey and his truck.
First responders arrived to find Lacey unresponsive. Despite CPR efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Silverado sustained injuries and was transported by ambulance to MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital for treatment.
The Maryland State Police Crash Team has taken over the investigation. Once their findings are complete, the case will be submitted to the St. Mary’s County State’s Attorney’s Office, which will determine whether any charges will be filed.
Authorities shut down MD Route 5 for over two hours as they worked to clear the scene and investigate the circumstances leading to the fatal crash.
The investigation remains ongoing, and anyone with information is urged to contact Maryland State Police.