Driver killed in Crofton crash Thursday

CROFTON, Md. - A 34-year-old man was killed early Thursday morning when he crashed his SUV into the back of a box truck in Crofton, police say.

It happened at around 2:15 a.m. on Route 3 near Waugh Chapel Road.

Salvador Enrique Ayala-Mendoza was driving his 2002 Ford Explorer in the southbound right lane when he came up to a slower driver, police say. He then moved into the center lane, lost control, crossed into the left lane, and then slid back across all three lanes and into the right turn lane. That's when police say he slammed into the back of a 1999 Stoughton box trailer driven by 30-year-old Jefferson Bolden Jr. of Baltimore.

Ayala-Mendoza was pronounced dead on the scene. His passenger, 32-year-old Terranie Rollins, was also hurt. He was taken to the University of Maryland Shock Traumer Center with minor injuries. Two other people in the vehicle were not hurt. Bolden was unhurt at well.

Police say they believe driver error and speed are to blame for the crash.