A 69-year-old man died yesterday after a driver struck him in a hit-and-run at the intersection of Belair Road and Prague Avenue in Overlea. Medics rushed him to an area hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. Baltimore County investigators say the driver took off, and the search for whoever was behind the wheel is still very much underway.
As reported by The Avenue News, Baltimore County police identified the victim as 69-year-old Landis Williams and said crash-team detectives determined he was hit by a 2014 Honda CR-V. The outlet reports that the vehicle did not remain at the scene, and detectives are continuing the investigation. Authorities have not released any information about a suspect or a possible motive.
Belair Road's safety record
Belair Road is a busy corridor that has seen multiple pedestrian deaths in recent years, a track record that keeps fueling debates over traffic calming and stricter enforcement. Coverage of past deadly crashes along the route and other local reporting has highlighted the dangers along the roadway. County planners have floated measures like road diets and automated speed enforcement to bring speeds down, while residents and safety advocates have repeatedly pressed for engineering fixes and tougher enforcement to make crossings safer for people on foot.
Where it happened
The collision occurred at the intersection of Belair Road (US-1) and Prague Avenue in Overlea. State highway location references list Prague Avenue as a crossing point on Belair Road in that area, and Maryland State Highway Administration records confirm the two roads meet in the Overlea section of northeast Baltimore County.
Investigators with the Baltimore County Police Crash Team are working to identify the driver and determine what led to the collision. As The Avenue News notes, authorities are expected to release additional details as the investigation moves forward.
