Maryland State Police investigate fatal crash in Cecil County

(NORTH EAST, MD) On November 14, 2018 just before 3:15 PM, troopers from the Maryland State Police’s North East Barrack responded to Joseph Biggs Memorial Highway (MD 274) east of Kirks Mill Lane in North East, Cecil County for a two vehicle collision.

When troopers and Cecil County Emergency Services arrived they came upon a blue 2013 Nissan Sentra, which had been operated by Ms. Jennifer Graf, 23 years old from Elkton, that had struck a white 2016 Chevrolet Equinox driven by Betty Murray, 66 years old of Rising Sun. The preliminary investigation determined the Nissan was initially traveling eastbound on Joseph Biggs Memorial Highway, when it attempted to pass another vehicle in front of it traveling in the same direction. The Nissan crossed into the westbound lane during the attempted pass, where it struck the Chevrolet traveling westbound head-on.

Graf was transported to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma in Baltimore by a Maryland State Police Aviation medevac. A 17 year old juvenile passenger from the Nissan was flown to Christiana Hospital in Delaware, and a second passenger identified as Robert Hale, 27 years old of Rising Sun was transported by EMS to Christiana Hospital as well. Betty Murray was transported to Union Hospital in Elkton, however she succumbed to her injuries and was declared dead shortly after arriving.

The Maryland State Police CRASH team responded to the scene for the investigation, and the State Highway Administration assisted with the road closure which lasted approximately four (4) hours.

Anyone who may have witnessed the collision is asked to contact the North East Barrack reference case number 18-MSP-049435.

Charges may be pending after the entire investigation is completed and consultation with the Cecil County State’s Attorney’s Office.

The investigation continues…