Six people, including two rescue workers, were sent to the hospital last weekend after multiple accidents around the region. All lanes of the Beltway Inner Loop were shut down early Sunday morning between River Road and I-270. Just after midnight, a pickup truck driven by 34-year-old Maximiliano A. Curcho, from Clarksburg, Maryland, skidded across two lanes of I-495, striking two EMTs who were assisting people injured in a previous crash.

The two EMTs, Thomas E. Schryver, 26, and Sydney E. Marshall, 19, were transported to Suburban Hospital. Both are volunteers for the Glen Echo Fire Department. The driver of the pickup truck was also taken to Suburban for treatment. The EMTs were responding to injured people in a 2014 Toyota Corolla which was disabled along the I-495. Curcho’s vehicle struck the Toyota in the rear, the two EMTs, and a responding ambulance. It is unknown if the second collision exacerbated any of the injuries the three passengers in the Toyota had already suffered.

Road conditions Sunday night were exceptionally poor and icy. The Maryland State Police Crash Team is conducting an ongoing investigation, and no charges have been filed at this time. In a separate incident, emergency responders were assisting at the scene of an accident involving a bus from Bowie State University at University Boulevard near Lorain Avenue in Silver Spring. A Metro bus collided with the emergency responders vehicle, but no one was injured.

Hazardous road conditions make even the most careful drivers susceptible to accidents. When conditions are bad, remember to driver slowly and carefully. Avoid driving, if possible, until after the roads have been cleared. Leave plenty of space between you and other vehicles, as making sudden stops can cause your vehicle to slide. When other drivers make dangerous decisions during bad weather, everyone’s safety is jeopardized. If you were injured by a negligent driver, you may be able to file a lawsuit for your injuries.