Two people were killed Sunday afternoon when a massive tree crashed down onto a pickup truck on Solomons Island Road (Route 2) near Aspen Woods Drive in Sunderland, Calvert County. First responders arrived to find three people trapped under the fallen tree. Two victims were pronounced dead at the scene while crews worked to free the third occupant.
Emergency crews were dispatched to the intersection around 4:40 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 22, after multiple 911 callers reported a serious crash with people trapped inside the vehicle. According to FOX 5 DC, dispatchers and witnesses reported that a tree had fallen onto a truck and was "crushing" at least one person. As firefighters and medics fought to reach the occupants, two victims were declared dead on scene while rescuers focused on extricating the remaining passenger. The Calvert County Sheriff's Office said its crash reconstruction team remained on site to investigate what led to the tragedy.
Local outlet The BayNet reported that initial 911 calls confirmed the location near Aspen Woods Drive and described a single-vehicle crash involving a pickup truck pinned by a fallen tree. Its timeline also placed the first alert at about 4:40 p.m., noting that firefighters and EMS were in the middle of a difficult extrication effort to reach the third trapped occupant. Authorities had not released the victims' names as of the most recent updates.
Storms, High Winds and Emergency Rules
The deadly incident unfolded as a winter storm was slamming the region and making already treacherous roads even worse. The Maryland State Police activated a Snow Emergency Plan for Calvert County at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, according to Southern Maryland News Net. The emergency declaration came as authorities warned drivers to stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary.
NBC4 reported forecasts calling for 2 to 6 inches of accumulating snow across parts of the D.C. metro area, with quickly deteriorating travel conditions. As the storm moved through, officials said crews were already dealing with multiple downed trees and power lines when the Route 2 crash occurred.
Investigation and Local Impact
The Calvert County Sheriff's Office reconstruction unit stayed on scene into the evening as workers secured the area and cleared debris from the roadway, according to FOX 5 DC. Traffic on Route 2 near Aspen Woods Drive was expected to be disrupted while investigators documented the scene and cleanup continued. County agencies said they were monitoring conditions as the storm and its aftermath strained local resources.
Investigators are asking anyone who witnessed the crash or has relevant dash-cam video to come forward to assist with the reconstruction. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Calvert County Sheriff's Office non-emergency line at 410-535-2800, according to the agency’s website. Residents are urged to follow local media and county alerts for updates on road closures and the ongoing investigation. This story will be updated as officials release additional details.
