A 60-year-old Clinton man has died two days after being struck by a vehicle while walking near Surratts Road and Lormar Court, according to Prince George's County police. Gary Shifler was found lying in the roadway suffering from trauma after officers responded to reports of a pedestrian crash on Sept. 28, and he was rushed to a hospital before succumbing to his injuries on Sept. 30.
According to DC News Now, the vehicle that struck Shifler was traveling in the westbound lane at the time of the collision. Police say the driver remained at the scene and was unharmed. The crash occurred around 6 a.m. near Lormar Court, per the Prince George's County Police Department.
Specialized Unit Leads Reconstruction Effort
The investigation into Shifler's death is being led by the department's Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Unit, a specialized team assigned to the Special Operations Division that handles major vehicular crashes and fatal pedestrian incidents across the county, per the department's own account. The case remains under investigation, and police have asked anyone with information, including witnesses or residents with dash camera or home surveillance footage, to come forward. Tipsters can call (301) 731-4422 and reference case number 26-0051720, the department said.
Maryland law sets right-of-way rules for drivers and pedestrians at crosswalks and intersections. Under Maryland Transportation Code § 21-502, drivers must stop and yield to pedestrians crossing within marked or unmarked crosswalks at intersections, according to Justia Law. Separately, Maryland Transportation Code § 21-503 requires pedestrians crossing outside of a marked crosswalk or an unmarked intersection crosswalk to yield the right-of-way to approaching vehicles, per the Maryland General Assembly.
A Corridor With a Troubled History
Surratts Road has been the site of previous fatal pedestrian incidents, including an October 2024 early-morning crash at Piscataway Road and Surratts Village Drive that killed 45-year-old Clinton resident Quintinia Milledge, who died at the scene after being hit in the roadway, according to the police department's social media account. Hoodline has also reported on a fatal two-car crash in Temple Hills.
Countywide, traffic fatalities totaled 91 in 2024, with about 92 projected for 2025 as of May, according to The Washington Informer.
Nationally, the Governors Highway Safety Association projected 6,732 pedestrian deaths in 2025, a 7% decrease from 2024 and the third consecutive annual national decline, though the group noted fatalities remain above pre-pandemic levels. For now, the circumstances surrounding Shifler's death remain under review as the Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Unit continues its work, with no further findings yet made public.
