Two men are dead and another in hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries after a crash involving vehicles on duty to monitor the situation around the truck convoy protest.
Police say they were called at around 6:44 p.m. Preliminary information indicates that a vehicle struck a dump truck parked at the 11th Street SE exit of I-695.
Officers said the driver of the vehicle, a 2011 BMW, was travelling eastbound on Interstate 695 at an apparent high rate of speed. The driver lost control or the car and collided with a parked District of Columbia Department of Public Works (DPW) dump truck at exit 1C.
The BMW then crossed across multiple lanes of traffic, striking a 2004 Toyota MR2 before striking a jersey barrier and batching on fire.
DC Fire Emergency Services (DC FEMS) arrived on the scene and extinguished the vehicle, which was on fire. The two occupants of the vehicle that struck the dump truck were pronounced dead on the scene.
The DPW truck was parked on the highway as part of layered security measures associated with the truck convoy protest and was accompanied by a police vehicle.
The occupant of the dump truck was transported to a local hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.
All lanes were closed on I695 Eastbound at 11th Street, SE Exit 1C for investigation of the crash activity. Traffic is being diverted to Sixth Street and South Capital Street, SE. Tuesday night drivers should avoid the area and use alternate routes.
The decedents’ identities are being withheld pending next of kin notification.
Anyone who has knowledge of this incident should call police at (202) 727-9099 or text your tip to the MPD’s anonymous Text Tip Line at 50411.
Police say the Major Crash Unit is investigating. This story is developing.
An earlier version of this story contained an error indicating that only one man had died. The two occupants of the vehicle that struck the dump truck both died. The Hill Rag regrets the error.
Mar. 9, 11:31 a.m.: This story has been updated to include information from an MPD press release issued Wedneday morning.
