FENWICK ISLAND — Two Maryland men were struck and killed while attempting to cross Route 54 just east of the Fenwick Ditch late Friday evening.
Just after 11 p.m. on June 14, two pedestrians attempted to cross Route 54 just east of Dukes Rd. in Fenwick Island and just across the Maryland-Delaware border near Harpoon Hanna’s when they were struck by a Jeep Wrangler heading east. The pedestrians, identified as Grant D. Kinkade, Sr., 45, of Westminster. and Robert J. Rust, 64, of Lutherville, were attempting to cross Route 54 from north to south when they walked into the path of the eastbound Jeep Wrangler.
The Jeep struck both pedestrians and then came to a stop on the shoulder. Kinkade was pronounced dead at the scene. Rust was airlifted by Delaware State Police helicopter to Christiana Hospital where he was pronounced dead. The driver of the Jeep, identified as Timothy L. Frank, 57, of Reisterstown, and his two passengers were not injured in the accident.
The DSP Collision Reconstruction Unit is continuing the investigation this week. Route 54, also known as Lighthouse Rd., was closed for about four hours on Friday night and into Saturday morning as DSP troopers investigated and cleared the crash scene.
Vehicle Hit By Tree
BERLIN — No injuries were reported late last Thursday night when a tree fell from the median on eastbound Route 50 near the Route 90 ramp, striking one moving vehicle and damaging another.
Around 10:55 p.m. last Thursday, Maryland State Police troopers responded to the area of Routes 50 and 90 for a reported motor vehicle collision involving a fallen tree. The investigation revealed a tree had fallen from the wooded median into the eastbound lanes of Route 50, striking one vehicle, a 2012 Kia Sorento, on the hood. Neither the driver nor the passenger was injured.
A second vehicle, a 1990 Chevy Blazer, following close behind was unable to avoid the fallen tree and sustained three flat tires and undercarriage damage. Again, neither of the two occupants of the second vehicle was injured. Traffic was directed around the scene of the downed tree for about 45 minutes until State Highway Administration crews arrived in the scene to remove the debris from the roadway.
Six Injured In Crash
WEST OCEAN CITY — Six people were sent to area hospitals after a two-vehicle accident on Route 611 at Route 707 resulted in one of the vehicles striking a residence.
Around 8:30 p.m. last Thursday, Maryland State Police troopers responded to the area of Routes 611 and 707 for a reported motor vehicle accident involving multiple injuries. The investigation revealed a 1992 Buick LeSabre, driven by 77-year-old William Paul Strickland, Jr., was heading north on Route 611 when it attempted to make a left turn onto Route 707.
The Buick failed to yield the right-of-way to a 2004 Honda Odyssey heading south on Route 611 and the two vehicles collided in the intersection. The Honda then left the roadway and struck a residence on the corner in the South Point Village neighborhood. The damage to the residence was minor and appears to be limited to a fence blocking the patio area from the roadway.
The driver of the Honda, David Faulds, 50, and each of the passengers including Kimberly Ann Faulds; a 17-year-old juvenile female; a 14-year-old juvenile female; and a 13-year-old juvenile male were all transported by ambulance to PRMC in Salisbury. Strickland, the driver of the Buick, was transported by ambulance to AGH. The nature of the injuries of all of the victims has not been made known.
Traffic was directed around the scene of the collision, with the assistance of the Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) and the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office, for about one hour during the investigation. The MSP Berlin Barrack is reminding motorists to drive with extra caution and diligence with the increased traffic during the summer months.
Cocaine Bust
BERLIN — A Virginia man was arrested and charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine last weekend after allegedly being found in possession of nearly five ounces of the illegal drug with an estimated street value of as high as $26,000.
Shortly after 4 p.m. last Sunday, a Maryland State Police trooper patrolling in the area of Route 13 near Pocomoke pulled over a vehicle for speeding. During the traffic stop, the trooper spoke with the driver, later identified as Jermaine Lamontia Norman, 34, of Portsmouth, Va. The suspect was patted down for possible weapons when the officer discovered a hard object in and around the suspect’s groin area below his waistband.
The object was removed and found to be a heat-sealed food saver bag containing a large quantity of highly compressed cocaine. After being placed under arrest, Norman and the cocaine were transported to the MSP Berlin barrack for processing. The cocaine was found to weigh nearly 134 grams, or just under five ounces. The cocaine has a street value estimated at anywhere from $13,000 to $26,000.
Norman was taken before a District Court Commissioner and was charged with possession and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. He is being held on a $10,000 bond. The Worcester County Criminal Enforcement Team is continuing the investigation.
Probation, Fine For Thief
SNOW HILL — A Stockton woman arrested in January on several theft charges after an investigation revealed she allegedly swiped thousands of dollars from the Wal-Mart in Berlin where she was employed pleaded guilty this week to one count of theft scheme from $1,000 to under $10,000 and was fined and placed on probation.
On Jan. 18, a Worcester County Sheriff’s Deputy was dispatched to the Wal-Mart on Route 50 for a reported theft by an employee, later identified as Tykia Taylor, 20, of Stockton. The investigation revealed Taylor allegedly stole money from the Wal-Mart on eight separate occasions and the total amount stolen came to $3,144.
Taylor was arrested and charged with theft scheme from $1,000 to $10,000, two counts of theft from $1,000 to $10,000, four counts of theft less than $1,000 and two counts of theft less than $100. This week, Taylor pleaded guilty in District Court to one count of theft scheme from $1,000 to under $10,000 and was placed on probation for one year and fined $200.
Fines For Weapons
OCEAN CITY — A Rosedale, Md. man arrested in April on numerous weapons charges after being observed walking down the Boardwalk with a large knife protruding from his waistband pleaded guilty this week in District Court to two counts and was fined a combined $1,000.
Around 2:10 a.m. on April 28, Ocean City Police observed a suspicious male on the Boardwalk at Dorchester Street with a partially concealed sheath knife protruding from his waistband. OCPD officers stopped the suspect, later identified as Roger Delano Holloway, 38, of Rosedale, and recovered a large Bowie-style knife concealed under his shirt and in the waistband of his pants.
Holloway was arrested and a subsequent search revealed a second concealed fixed-blade knife as well as an automatic-opening folding knife and a set of metal knuckles. Holloway was charged with three counts of carrying a concealed deadly weapon and one violation of the town’s martial arts weapon possession ordinance.
This week in District Court, Holloway pleaded guilty to one count of carrying a dangerous weapon and possession of metal knuckles. He was fined $500 for each charge.
OP Vehicle Fire Probed
OCEAN PINES — The Worcester County Fire Marshal’s Office this week is investigating a vehicle fire on Ocean Parkway in Ocean Pines last week.
Around 7:30 p.m. last Thursday, the Ocean Pines Volunteer Fire Company responded to a reported vehicle fire near the North Gate on Ocean Parkway in Ocean Pines. First-arriving units revealed a late model VW bug on the shoulder with fire extending from the passenger compartment. The fire was quickly extinguished and confined to the passenger compartment and no injuries were reported.
The cause of the fire has been listed as undetermined and the investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is urged to contact Chief Deputy Fire Marshal Matt Owens at 410-632-5666.