Maryland State Police Investigate Two Separate Fatal Crashes on the Eastern Shore Over Holiday Weekend

State of MD - Maryland State Police are investigating two fatal crashes that happened on the Eastern Shore during the Fourth of July weekend.

The first crash happened on July 3, 2026 around 10:15 p.m. Troopers from the Maryland State Police Easton Barrack responded to eastbound Route 50 at Mt. Holly Road for a report of a three-vehicle crash.

James Demby, 43, of Cambridge, Maryland, was driving a Kia Soul and died at the scene. Three other people, including two 17-year-old boys, were taken to a hospital by ambulance.

A fourth passenger, also 17, was flown by Maryland State Police Aviation Command to a trauma center.

Police say all three vehicles were heading east on Route 50 when the Kia tried to cross between a Subaru Forester and an Audi Q5. The Kia hit both vehicles before striking a light pole and landing in a ditch.

The Audi ended up in an embankment, and the Subaru came to rest in the median.
Crews from the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration and local fire departments helped at the scene. Lanes were closed for more than three hours while police investigated the crash.

The second crash happened the next morning. On July 4, 2026 at around 9:43 a.m., troopers from the Maryland State Police Centreville Barrack responded to southbound Route 301 at Roberts Station Road for a crash.

The preliminary investigation indicates that an SUV was traveling west on Roberts Station Road, approaching the intersection at U.S. Route 301, when, for unknown reasons, it continued through the intersection and struck a tractor-trailer that was traveling south.

The impact of the crash caused the SUV to become pinned under the tractor-trailer and catch fire. Both vehicles came to a rest on the shoulder of lane two. Police believe that speeding may have been a factor in the crash.

Several agencies helped investigate, including the Queen Anne's County Sheriff's Office, the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration, and Natural Resources Police. Troopers from the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division and Automotive Safety Enforcement Division are also assisting. Lanes were shut down for more than three hours during the investigation.

Both crashes remain under investigation. Maryland State Police have not released further details at this time.