"Unfortunately the two passengers in the Model A were ejected,” said Elena Russo of the Maryland State Police, “One was pronounced dead at the scene and the other one succumbed to her injuries at the hospital."
When he starts up his own 1931 Model A, Jim Gregory of Laurel says he’s ready to hit the road, and he’s done so plenty of times since he bought “Miss Minnie”, as he calls her, 15 years ago.
"We've put close to 40,000 miles on it,” said Gregory who is the president of the Greater Baltimore Model A Ford Club, “ We've been as far south as Louisiana. We've been to the national meet in Wisconsin."
But rarely, if ever, has Gregory taken his prize on major highways, and along with seatbelts in the front and rear, he’s added plenty of features to help make his early twentieth century car ready for twenty-first century driving.
"I put an extra brake light in the back window and four-way flashers on it. I have electronic turn signals. All these are modernized to make it safe on the highway," said Gregory.
Police say the victims’ car on I-70 also was equipped with lap belts, and while the investigation continues, it appears charges against the driver, which back-ended the antique may be forthcoming.
"The driver of the striking vehicle may have not only been following too closely, but neglected to reduce his speed to avoid a collision,” said Russo, “because according to witnesses, there was ample opportunity to get out of the way into one of the other lanes.
At the time of the crash, it’s estimated the Model A may have been travelling at its top speed of 50 miles per hour.
A week ago, a Grambrills man died when a car crossed the center line on Defense Highway in Crofton and struck his 1936 Ford head-on.
