Full Notification

WESTERN DISTRICT
MULTIPLE VICTIM FATAL CRASH MILLERSVILLE

On Tuesday, August 27, 2013, at approximately 4:55 p.m., members of the Anne Arundel County Police Department’s Western District responded to a multiple vehicle crash at MD Route 3 South near the MD Route 32 overpass. The crash caused MD Route 3 to be closed for several hours and involved a total of seven passenger vehicles and one commercial vehicle that was described as a flat bed delivery truck.

The traffic crash resulted in the deaths of three people. Additionally, six people were taken to area hospitals. Two of the six injured subjects were taken to area trauma centers with what were described as possible life-threatening injuries.

The Anne Arundel County Police Traffic Safety Section responded and took over the investigation of this crash. The investigation determined that all of the involved crash vehicles were traveling southbound on Route 3. As the vehicles neared the MD Route 32 overpass, other traffic began to slow down due to the volume associated with the traffic signal at MD Route 175. The International Truck (Vehicle #1) failed to reduce its speed and struck the Toyota Camry (Vehicle #2) from the rear. The initial collision caused a chain reaction with the other vehicles.

Based on evidence at the scene, it appears that the International Truck was traveling was traveling close to the posted speed limit of 50 miles per hour. Commercial Vehicle Inspectors from the Maryland State Police responded and conducted a post crash vehicle inspection of the International truck. Drugs and alcohol do not appear to be factors in the crash. The occupants of the Toyota were restrained by safety belts, but injuries were not lessened due to the force of the crash. Preliminarily, it appears the contributing factor to the crash was driver error on the part of the operator of the International Truck. Investigators are consulting with the State’s Attorney’s Office and the investigation is ongoing.


Vehicle 1: 2000 International Truck
Owner: Coffman Trucking
Driver: Jason Nathaniel Pagaypya, 36 years of Waldorf Md
Injuries: None

Vehicle 2: 2009 Toyota Camry

Driver: Michael Thomas Cullen II, 37, of Warsaw, VA
Injuries: Critical, but stable condition at Shock Trauma

Front Passenger: 15-year-old male from Warsaw, VA (son of the driver)
Injuries: Critical, but stable condition at Shock Trauma

Back Seat (Left) Passenger: Bethany Dawn Dempsey, 37, of Warsaw, VA (girlfriend of the driver)
Injuries: Fatal

Back Seat (Middle) Passenger: Abigail Randi Cullen, 7, of Warsaw, VA (daughter of the driver)
Injuries: Fatal

Back Seat (Right) Passenger: Lauren White, 14, of Warsaw, VA (daughter of the 37-year-old female)
Injuries: Fatal

Involved Vehicle: 2003 Buick Century

Driver: James David Cox, 69, of Waldorf, Md
Injuries: Minor

Front Passenger: Denise Elise Cox, 62, of Waldorf Md
Injuries: Minor (treated and released from BWMC)

Involved Vehicle: 2004 Infiniti G35
Driver: Bernard Melvin Taylor, 59, of Mitchellville, Md
Injuries: None

Front Passenger: Patricia Jean Covington, 71, of Bowie, Md
Injuries: None

Involved Vehicle: 2009 Jeep Commander
Driver: April Leah Avila, 36, of Glen Burnie, Md
Injuries: Minor (treated and released from BWMC)

Involved Vehicle: 2008 Honda Accord
Driver: Abiola Oluwaseyi Isola, 19, of Bowie, Md
Injuries: Minor (treated and released from BWMC)

Involved Vehicle: 2011 Honda Accord
Driver: Casey Leanne Steele, 24, of North Beach, Md
Injuries: None

Involved Vehicle: 2009 Honda Accord
Driver: Dana Tiffani Cartwright, 34, of Bowie, Md
Injuries: Minor (treated and released from BWMC)