Reisterstown man dies in head on collision on Interstate 795

Owings Mills - Surveying the damage to the blue 2005 Toyota Corolla, it appeared the driver had little chance of surviving the crash.

Witnesses had called 911 to report that a car was travelling south on the northbound lanes of Interstate 795, but Maryland State Police Lieutenant Jim DeWees says troopers could not turn around in time to try to flag him down in the wee hours of the morning Friday.

"The initial call came in at Franklin Boulevard. By the time we located the vehicle it was just south of Owings Mills Boulevard,” said Lt. DeWees, “At about 3 o'clock this morning, we received calls that a crash had occurred just south of Owings Mills Boulevard."

The driver of a northbound Volvo station wagon had no time to react when the Toyota, which witnesses claim had no lights on, appeared directly in front of her.

"The two of them we believe hit at about 60 miles per hour give or take and came to rest in the roadway. When we arrived and EMS arrived both occupants, and they were lone occupants in each vehicle, were in critical condition. Both were transported."

Paramedics rushed 33-year old David Earl Patterson of Reisterstown to Northwest Hospital, but their efforts would be in vain.

The driver of the Volvo, 28-year old Mary Christina Medicus of Westminster, survived the crash, and at last report, she was listed in serious, but stable condition at the Shock Trauma Center.

"We are reconstructing the accident with our crash team,” said Lt. DeWees, “We are also looking at alcohol as a factor in the collision, and we're also looking at how this particular person got on 795 going the wrong way."

Maryland State Police say another car travelling in the same wrong direction on the same highway also was involved in a single-car accident prior to the fatal crash.

In that incident, troopers arrested the driver and charged her with driving under the influence.