Interstate 95 is basically the backbone of the East Coast, but yesterday, it turned into a scene of absolute chaos. If you were stuck in that massive backup or saw the helicopters circling near Elkridge, you already know something went sideways. One man is dead. Three others are in the hospital. Honestly, the details coming out of the Maryland State Police investigation paint a pretty sobering picture of how quickly a routine Monday morning commute can turn fatal.
It happened early. Like, 5:30 a.m. early.
While most people were just hitting snooze or pouring their first cup of coffee, a 2025 Freightliner refuse truck—basically a large garbage truck—was heading south through Howard County. Just before it reached the exit for Route 100, it slammed into the back of a 2014 Volvo tractor-trailer.
The tractor-trailer wasn't even moving. It was parked on the right shoulder.
The Reality of the Wreck on I-95 Yesterday
When a garbage truck hits a stationary semi-truck at highway speeds, the physics are just brutal. Maryland State Police identified the driver of the refuse truck as 47-year-old Lazaro Miranda from Baltimore. He didn't make it. Emergency responders pronounced him dead right there on the scene. It’s the kind of news that stops a family's world in its tracks.
Two other guys were in that garbage truck with him: Juan Cormachi, 22, and Fausto Flores, 35. Because their injuries were so severe, the Maryland State Police Aviation Command had to fly them out. They were airlifted to a shock trauma center. We don't have an update on their current condition, but when the "Trooper" helicopters get called in, you know it's serious.
The driver of the parked Volvo, Abdul Abubakar, 42, was taken to a local hospital by ground ambulance. Luckily, a passenger in his truck walked away without a scratch.
Why the Road Stayed Closed for So Long
You've probably wondered why the police keep lanes closed for four, five, or six hours after a wreck on I-95 yesterday. It’s frustrating when you’re sitting in gridlock, but there's a specific process. The Maryland State Police Crash Team doesn't just tow the trucks and sweep up the glass. They have to reconstruct the entire event.
- Evidence Mapping: They use laser scanners to map tire marks and debris fields.
- Vehicle Inspections: The Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division (CVED) showed up to inspect both rigs.
- Fluid Cleanup: Large trucks carry massive amounts of diesel and hydraulic fluid. If that leaks, it’s a hazmat situation before the lanes can safely reopen.
By about 9:30 a.m., they managed to get two lanes open, but the ripple effect on traffic lasted well into the afternoon. If you were trying to get to BWI or heading toward D.C., you were basically out of luck.
Not the Only Major Crash Yesterday
While the Howard County tragedy took the headlines, I-95 was a mess in other spots too. Down in Florida, a 25-year-old man lost his life in Fellsmere. He was driving a 2023 Subaru BRZ northbound near mile marker 151 when his car veered off the road and hit a tree. That happened around 6:42 a.m.
Then you had a hit-and-run in Henrico, Virginia. A man on a bicycle was trying to cross the southbound lanes of I-95—which is incredibly dangerous to begin with—and was struck by a red bobtail tractor. The driver didn't even stop. He just kept going.
👉 See also: Weather Radar for Beebe Arkansas: Why Your App Might Be Lying to You
It makes you think about how dangerous this stretch of pavement actually is. We treat 70 mph like it's nothing, but yesterday was a reminder that the margin for error is razor-thin.
Common Misconceptions About Shoulder Safety
Most people think the shoulder is a "safe zone." It’s not. In the wreck on I-95 yesterday involving the garbage truck, the tractor-trailer was parked on the right shoulder. We don't know yet why the garbage truck drifted out of its lane. Maybe it was fatigue. Maybe a mechanical failure.
Whatever the reason, the "Move Over" laws exist for a reason. When you see a vehicle on the shoulder—whether it’s a cop, a tow truck, or just a stalled semi—you've got to give them space.
What You Should Do Now
If you’re a regular commuter on I-95, yesterday's events should be a wake-up call to tighten up your own safety habits.
Check your tech. Use apps like Waze or Google Maps every single time you get in the car, even if you know the way. These apps often flag "vehicle on shoulder" alerts long before you see them with your own eyes.
Respect the "No-Zone." If you're driving near large trucks, remember they have massive blind spots. If you can't see the driver's face in their side mirrors, they definitely can't see you.
Audit your emergency kit. If you had been stuck in that Howard County closure, would you have had enough water? A phone charger? We often focus on the crash itself, but being stuck in the "parking lot" that follows a major wreck is its own kind of emergency.
Stay sharp out there. The investigation into the Howard County crash is still active, and the Maryland State Police are asking anyone who might have witnessed the collision to come forward.
Practical Next Steps:
- Download a dedicated traffic app like Maryland’s CHART system or the equivalent for your state to get real-time sensor data.
- Review the "Move Over" laws for your specific state; many now include all disabled vehicles with hazard lights, not just emergency responders.
- Check your dashcam footage if you drove past the Elkridge area around 5:30 a.m. yesterday; even "boring" footage can help investigators determine lane patterns before a crash.