It happened in an instant. Early this morning, a quiet stretch of road in Maryland became the site of a tragedy that has left a family shattered and investigators looking for answers. Honestly, these are the calls no one wants to get, especially in the pre-dawn hours when the world is supposed to be still.
Local authorities confirmed that a fatal car crash in Maryland leaves one dead today near the intersection of the outer loop of I-695 and Providence Road. The news hit the scanners just before 2:30 a.m., sending emergency crews racing toward the scene. When they arrived, the reality was grim. One person was already gone.
The Breakdown of the I-695 Collision
Traffic on the Baltimore Beltway is usually a nightmare, but at 2:00 in the morning, you expect a clear run. That wasn't the case today. According to the Maryland State Police, the sequence of events started with a disabled vehicle—a Mitsubishi Outlander—sitting in the left lane. It had hit a concrete barrier and was just... stuck there.
Then came a Toyota Camry. It couldn't stop in time and slammed into the back of the Mitsubishi.
Both drivers did what you're told to do: they got out of their cars and moved to the shoulder. But that's where things went from bad to worse. A third car, a Chevy Equinox, swerved to miss the wreckage and ended up hitting a 30-year-old man who was just standing there on the shoulder.
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The victim has been identified as Ahmed Waqus Qayun Kahn from Virginia. He was pronounced dead right there. He didn't even have a chance to get back into a safe spot.
A Hit-and-Run Investigation is Underway
Here’s the part that makes this even harder to stomach. The driver of that Chevy Equinox didn't stay. They got out, looked at what happened, and then just... fled.
Police are currently hunting for a 2025 red Chevy Equinox. It’s going to have significant damage to the front and the passenger side. If you see a car matching that description tucked away in a garage or a repair shop, the Golden Ring Barrack wants to hear from you.
It’s a hit-and-run now. That changes everything from a tragic accident to a criminal investigation.
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Why These "Secondary Crashes" Are Surging
You’ve probably seen it before. One small fender bender leads to a massive pile-up because people aren't looking far enough ahead, or they’re distracted by the lights. Experts at the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) have been sounding the alarm on this for a while.
When a car is disabled on a high-speed highway like I-695, the risk doesn't end when the car stops moving. In fact, that's often when the real danger starts.
- Visibility issues: At 2:30 a.m., hazard lights can actually be disorienting to other drivers.
- The "Rubbernecking" Effect: Even late at night, drivers tend to stare at the flashing lights instead of the road ahead.
- Speed: On the Beltway, people treat the speed limit like a suggestion.
Kahn’s death is a brutal reminder that the shoulder of a highway is one of the most dangerous places on earth. It’s not a safe zone; it’s just a slightly less busy part of the road.
What to Do if Your Car Breaks Down in Maryland
Kinda makes you think about what you'd do in that situation, right? If you find yourself in a disabled vehicle on a major Maryland artery like I-95 or I-695, the advice from the State Police is pretty specific.
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- Stay in the car if possible. Unless the car is on fire or there is an immediate threat of being hit again, the steel cage of your vehicle is your best protection.
- Turn on your hazards immediately. This is the only way to signal to others that you aren't moving.
- Call #77. This connects you directly to the Maryland State Police. They can get a "HELP" truck or a trooper to your location to provide a barrier.
- Never stand between vehicles. If a car hits your car from behind, you don't want to be the "sandwich" in the middle.
The Legal Fallout of Fatal Maryland Accidents
Maryland law is pretty strict when it comes to vehicular manslaughter and hit-and-run charges. Since the driver in today’s crash fled the scene, they are looking at potential felony charges that carry years of prison time.
The Maryland State Police Crash Team is leading the charge on this one. They use 3D laser scanners to reconstruct the scene, looking at things like "yaw marks" (the marks tires make when a car is sliding) and the final resting positions of the vehicles. They'll figure out exactly how fast that Equinox was going.
Moving Forward Safely
We see these headlines all the time—another fatal car crash in Maryland leaves one dead today near this exit or that bridge. But for the family of Ahmed Waqus Qayun Kahn, this isn't just a headline. It’s a permanent void.
If you have any information about the red Chevy Equinox involved in this morning's tragedy, call the Maryland State Police Golden Ring Barrack at 410-780-2700. Your tip could be the thing that brings a grieving family some version of closure.
In the meantime, keep your eyes on the road. Don't assume the shoulder is safe. If you see hazard lights ahead, move over—it’s not just a courtesy, it’s the law in Maryland.
Stay alert and look out for each other out there. The goal is always to make it home in one piece.