A pedestrian died Sunday after being struck by a vehicle on U.S. 40 near Blentlinger Road, prompting police to investigate. The victim's identity has not been released.
Highway Shut Down For Hours During Investigation
According to The Frederick News-Post, the Frederick Police Department is investigating the crash and is withholding the victim's identity while the inquiry remains ongoing. Frederick's director of government relations, Allen Etzler, reported that the pedestrian died after being struck by a vehicle.
A Crash Reconstruction Team investigation can last weeks to months and examine vehicle movement, sight lines, and timing. Details such as driver speed, lighting conditions, and whether the pedestrian was in a crosswalk remain unknown for now.
A Corridor With A Troubled History
Sunday's fatality adds to a string of pedestrian deaths along the U.S. 40 corridor in recent years. In July, 74-year-old Ann Christine Andrex died after being struck while crossing near the Staples entrance at the Frederick Shopping Center on West 7th Street, a crash Hoodline previously covered; she was flown to Shock Trauma in Baltimore before succumbing to her injuries, according to the City of Frederick. In December 2022, 33-year-old Jason Arias was killed after being struck while crossing near Willowdale Drive outside a designated crosswalk, according to the City of Frederick.
Traffic data from the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration shows the corridor carries between 45,000 and 120,000 vehicles per day.
State Officials Have Tried To Slow Traffic Down
State transportation officials have taken steps to address the danger. In February 2024, the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration reduced the speed limit on U.S. 40, also known as West Patrick Street, from 45 mph to 35 mph along the Golden Mile stretch between U.S. 15 and Old Camp Road specifically to improve pedestrian safety. The change came amid a broader statewide push under Maryland's Complete Streets initiative, launched in June 2024, which aimed to redesign roadways with pedestrian and cyclist safety in mind.
Maryland's combined pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities fell from 173 in 2024 to 116 in 2025.
Sunday's crash underscores the persistent risk pedestrians face along U.S. 40 specifically. Key questions about what led to the fatal collision, including the driver's speed and whether the pedestrian was using a crosswalk, remain unanswered for now.
