Forest Hill Accident Claims Life

UPDATE (10:17 a.m.)—One woman is dead and three were injured in a Thursday afternoon accident in Forest Hill that involved a trailer carrying two horses.

Bradley Garrett Baker, of Fallston, was stopped on Grafton Shop Road preparing to cross MD Route 23, or East-West Highway, in a 1998 Chevy S-10 at around 3:30 p.m., according to Maryland State Police with the Bel Air Barrack.

At the same time, a 2000 Peterbuilt oil tanker was heading west on Route 23 while a 2000 Chevrolet Suburban towing a horse trailer was eastbound on the highway, state police said.

Baker told police he didn’t see the Suburban through the glare of the setting sun and pulled directly into its path, according to a release from state police.

The Suburban, driven by Mary Helene Niles, of Street, crashed into the S-10 on the right corner and continued into oncoming traffic where it was hit on the passenger side by the oil tanker, police said.

The front passenger of the Suburban, Deborah Ann Wimbrough, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to state police. Niles, the driver, was flown by medevac helicopter to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore with injuries that did not appear life threatening.

Baker refused treatment at the scene.

The driver of the oil tanker, Charles Anthony Chew, and his passenger, Ralph Davis III, were taken to Upper Chesapeake Medical Center in Bel Air for treatment of minor injuries, police said.

The horses survived the crash. Animal control and a local vet were caring for the animals in the wake of the accident, Rich Gardiner, spokesman for Harford County Volunteer Fire and EMS Association said.

MD Route 23 remained closed to traffic between MD Route 24 and High Point Road for several hours as police conducted their on-scene investigation. Fire personnel also remained on scene to assist.