A 48-year-old Baltimore County man who was hit on a busy stretch of Baltimore National Pike has died, leaving the Catonsville area shaken as investigators work to piece together what went wrong.
Police say Jarrett Ayers, 48, was struck by a vehicle last Wednesday, near Ingleside Avenue and died Tuesday after succumbing to his injuries. According to detectives, Ayers had been in the roadway when he was hit, and the crash has prompted a formal probe by the Baltimore County Police Department Crash Team.
According to FOX Baltimore, preliminary findings show the driver was traveling westbound on Baltimore National Pike when the vehicle struck Ayers, and the driver stayed on the scene after the collision. The station reports Ayers died yesterday after being hospitalized following the Feb. 4 crash.
Crash Team Investigating
"The Baltimore County Police Department’s Crash Team is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding this incident," FOX Baltimore reported. Investigators are reviewing the scene, speaking with witnesses and going over early evidence to determine how the collision unfolded along the heavily traveled corridor.
What This Means For Local Safety
Statewide, Maryland has reported a drop in traffic fatalities in 2025, with pedestrian and bicyclist deaths down about one-third, according to the Office of Governor Wes Moore. Officials say the decline reflects investments in enforcement and safety engineering, yet deadly incidents on major roads like Baltimore National Pike remain a stark reminder of how vulnerable people on foot can be.
Baltimore County police have long urged extra caution after dark, advising pedestrians to cross at marked crosswalks and wear reflective clothing, and reminding drivers to obey posted speed limits, per the Baltimore County Police Department. Crash Team investigators have not released additional details about the driver, and the investigation remains active.
