On Tuesday, November 12th, a long-distance (OTR) semi-truck driver from Florida was passing through western Maryland was hit and killed by a Maryland State Police cruiser. The driver had pulled over due to mechanical problems and was struck as a pedestrian while he was walking on the side of Interstate 68 late last Tuesday night.
Trucker Lamont Scaife, age 39 of Orlando, Florida, climbed down from the cab of his disabled tractor-trailer in an attempt to unhook his trailer. Trucking operators and shippers will sometimes have a load picked up by a relief driver if the assigned truck breaks down or must be towed away for repairs. Scaife was stopped on eastbound I-68 near an overpass in Garret County, Maryland. He may have been instructed to leave the trailer for pickup.
As Scaife returned to the truck’s cab, a piece of paper was blown out into the travel lanes. When Scaife went to chase the paper down on the dark road, he was struck and fatally injured by an oncoming State Police patrol car.
The truck driver was transported to a Western Maryland Health System hospital where he pronounced dead by medical officials. At the time of the accident, road conditions were snowy and forward visibility was poor. The Maryland State trooper, identified as Tfc. Scott Bell, was not hurt in the crash.
Authorities have opened a full investigation into the fatal crash. No further information was available.
References:
ABC 7 News
