Two dead in wrong-way crash on Route 50

Two people from Baltimore died early Sunday morning after an SUV traveling in the wrong direction on Route 50 in Annapolis struck their motorcycle, state police said. It was the latest in a string of wrong way fatalities in the area over the last several years. A preliminary investigation showed that a silver Ford Expedition was traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes when it crashed into the motorcycle on Route 50 at Ridgely Avenue, according to a state police news release. State police responded around12:50 a.m. The two people on the motorcycle, Donald Tyner, 56, and Janell McDougald, 45, were declared dead at the scene, according to state police. The driver of the Ford Expedition was taken into custody at the scene and then to the state police’s Annapolis Barrack for processing. The suspect’s identity is being withheld pending formal charges being filed. Route 50 was shut down in both directions and traffic was diverted onto Rowe Boulevard at Bestgate Road. Route 50 was re-opened just before 6 a.m. Five people were killed in 2017 in separate crashes on Route 50 near Annapolis. county prosecutor says light rail stops in Glen Burnie and Linthicum are potential hubs where people addicted to drugs travel into Baltimore to buy more. State’s Attorney Wes Adams told community activists calling for the light rail to be shut down that county opioid overdoses are concentrated around light rail stations. Area residents held the rally to call for the Linthicum, Ferndale and Cromwell stations to be closed because of what they said was an increase in petty crime. “Everybody knows you just have to look up on the website of the county police, right here from Route 2 down along the corridor, the light rail is [where] we have the bulk of the overdoses and overdose deaths in Anne Arundel County,” Adams said at the July 28 event. County police and Adams’ Democratic opponent, however, have expressed doubts about the connection. Police statistics show no increase in crime in the area. “It’s not just one person [who] gets on the light rail, buys drugs and comes back. That’s a myth,” said Anne Colt Leitess, the former county prosecutor seeking to unseat Adams. “This is the first time he’s bringing up the light rail in a political year because he’s seizing on a political moment.” Adams’ comment came as many accuse non-county residents of using the light rail to commit crimes in Anne Arundel and leave, despite police statistics that show no substantial increase in crime in the surrounding communities in recent years. Earlier last month, Gov. Larry Hogan rejected calls from County Executive Steve Schuh to curtail service at the stations because of community concerns. He said there was adequate police presence. In an interview Thursday, Adams said he did not mean to point to the Linthicum, Ferndale and Cromwell stations as places where drug distribution takes place. “The way I would understand [it], the trafficking would be happening in Baltimore city,” Adams said. He believes people addicted to heroin and other drugs are using the light rail to buy drugs in Baltimore and then travel back to Anne Arundel.