If you were trying to navigate the Baltimore Beltway this evening, you already know the vibe was basically a parking lot. A multiple-car accident on 695 today turned the Inner Loop near Liberty Road into a complete mess, leaving commuters stranded for hours as emergency crews worked under the glare of highway floodlights.
Honestly, if you've lived in Maryland long enough, you know the "695 experience" usually involves some level of stress, but today felt different. The Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) reported a significant vehicle fire following a collision, which effectively choked off a huge portion of the evening rush hour. This wasn't just a minor fender bender; we are talking about a scene that required a massive response from the Baltimore County Fire Department and State Police.
The Specifics of the 695 Inner Loop Crash
The trouble started around 6:22 PM. According to Maryland’s CHART (Coordinated Highways Action Response Team), the incident occurred on the I-695 Inner Loop just before Exit 18A for MD 26 (Liberty Road).
It's a tricky spot. You've got people merging, others trying to speed up to hit the main flow of traffic, and today, it all went sideways. Initial reports indicated that one of the vehicles involved caught fire, which is why the smoke was visible for miles. When a car goes up in flames on the Beltway, the protocol is strict. You can't just push it to the shoulder and keep moving. Fire crews need the space to work, and investigators need to make sure the road surface is even safe to drive on afterward.
At the height of the chaos, at least one of the four Inner Loop traffic lanes was completely blocked. That might not sound like much to a tourist, but for anyone who drives this route daily, losing 25% of your lane capacity during the Thursday home-bound crawl is a recipe for a three-mile backup.
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Why This Stretch of the Beltway is So Dangerous
You've probably noticed the construction. It's everywhere. Between Liberty Road and the ongoing work near the I-70 interchange, the lanes are shifted, the shoulders are narrow, and the "margin for error" is basically zero.
- Lane Narrowing: The "Triple Bridges" project and other widening efforts mean drivers are squeezed into tighter spaces than they're used to.
- The "Looky-Loo" Effect: On the Outer Loop, traffic slowed to a crawl simply because people were trying to see the smoke. This caused secondary "phantom" traffic jams that stretched back toward Security Boulevard.
- Variable Speeds: You go from 65 mph to a dead stop in seconds because of a curve or a hidden merge.
This specific multiple-car accident on 695 today isn't an isolated event, either. Just last month, the region mourned the loss of a Baltimore Police Officer, James Beckham, who was killed in a multi-vehicle crash on the Beltway near Perring Parkway. That tragedy involved a four-car pileup—a Nissan Sentra, a Toyota C-HR, an Altima, and a RAV4. It’s a sobering reminder that the metal boxes we drive are only as safe as the conditions around us.
Breaking Down the Aftermath
By 7:30 PM, the scene was still active. Responders remained on-site, and the smell of burnt rubber and plastic hung heavy in the air.
If you were stuck in it, you saw the "sea of red" brake lights. Maryland State Police are still digging into what actually caused the first impact. Was it a distracted driver? A sudden lane change? Or maybe just the inherent danger of a highway that’s currently one giant construction zone? Honestly, it’s usually a mix of all three.
The MDOT SHA (State Highway Administration) had their yellow trucks out in force, helping with lane closures and trying to direct the flow. But once that many cars are involved, the timeline for "reopening" becomes a moving target. They have to tow the wreckage, clear the debris—glass and plastic are everywhere after a high-speed impact—and ensure there’s no fuel spill.
What Drivers Are Saying
Social media was, predictably, a vent-fest for frustrated drivers. "Basically lived on 695 for two hours today," one user posted. Another mentioned seeing the flames from the Liberty Road overpass.
It's easy to get angry when you're late for dinner or a kid’s basketball game, but seeing the charred remains of a vehicle being winched onto a flatbed usually puts things back into perspective. People are lucky to walk away from these. In the December crash mentioned earlier, the driver of the Altima, Dante Summer, had to be rushed to the hospital with serious injuries. Today, while we're still waiting on final medical updates for everyone involved, the sheer volume of emergency vehicles suggested a very serious situation.
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How to Navigate the 695 Mess Moving Forward
The Beltway isn't getting easier to drive anytime soon. With the Francis Scott Key Bridge reconstruction still a major factor in regional traffic patterns, more cars are being pushed onto the northern and western arcs of 695.
Basically, you've got more volume on a road that's currently under the knife for repairs.
If you have to travel the Inner Loop near Liberty Road or the Outer Loop toward Towson, you've got to change your strategy. Don't just rely on your "commuter brain" to get you home.
Actionable Steps for Beltway Commuters
1. Check the CHART Live Feeds
Don't wait until you're already on the ramp. Maryland's CHART system has live cameras at almost every major exit, including Dogwood Road, Liberty Road, and Edmondson Avenue. If you see a cluster of emergency lights on the screen, take the back roads. Route 40 or Liberty Road (MD 26) can be slow, but they’re better than being trapped behind a car fire.
2. The "Buffer" Rule
Because of the multiple-car accident on 695 today, we saw how a single mistake creates a chain reaction. Give yourself three car lengths. It feels like you're "losing" your spot to someone who will cut you off, but that space is your only insurance when the guy in front of you slams on his brakes because of a ladder in the road or a sudden stall.
3. Move Over or Slow Down
It’s the law in Maryland. When you see those yellow SHA trucks or the blue and reds of the State Police, move to the left. If you can't move over because of traffic, you must slow down significantly. A lot of these accidents happen because a driver is startled by the flashing lights and overcorrects, hitting the car next to them.
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4. Update Your GPS mid-trip
Waze and Google Maps are great, but they can be laggy. If you're approaching a known bottleneck like the 695/I-70 split, refresh your route. It might save you thirty minutes by dumping you off at Windsor Mill Road.
What's Next for the Investigation?
The Maryland State Police Crash Team will likely spend the next 24 to 48 hours reconstructing the timeline of this multiple-car accident on 695 today. They'll look at tire marks, dashcam footage (if any drivers submit it), and witness statements.
If you happened to see the start of the crash or have a dashcam that was running near Exit 18 around 6:15 PM, the police actually want to hear from you. Those videos are often the only way they can determine if a "phantom vehicle" caused the mess by cutting someone off and then driving away.
For now, the lanes are beginning to clear, but the "traffic hangover" will last well into the night. If you’re heading out now, expect lingering delays and keep your eyes off your phone. The Beltway is unforgiving, especially when it’s cold, dark, and under construction.
To stay ahead of the next closure, bookmark the official Maryland 511 portal and check it before you turn the key in the ignition. Keeping an emergency kit in your trunk—blankets, water, and a portable charger—is also a smart move, because as we saw today, a twenty-minute drive can turn into a two-hour ordeal in the blink of an eye.