By Crash News Writer 
Elkridge, MD (November 8, 2026) – Two drivers died early Saturday morning, November 7, following a two-vehicle collision on Interstate 95 in Howard County. According to the Maryland State Police (MSP), the crash involved vehicles traveling in opposite directions on the highway, and investigators believe alcohol and speed contributed to the fatal accident.
The collision occurred shortly before 4:30 a.m. in the northbound lanes of I-95 near Elkridge. Troopers assigned to the Maryland State Police Waterloo Barrack responded after receiving reports of a serious crash involving two vehicles.
Authorities identified the deceased drivers as Taleb Ait Zakariae, 37, of Rosedale, and Timothy Summerville, 47, of Baltimore. Both men were pronounced dead at the accident scene.
According to the preliminary investigation, Zakariae was driving a 2025 Jeep Gladiator southbound while Summerville was operating a 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee northbound. Police reported that the vehicles were traveling in opposite directions within the same highway lane when the collision occurred.
The crash happened in lane one of the northbound roadway. Investigators have not explained how the southbound vehicle entered the northbound lanes or how long it had been traveling against traffic before the collision.
Maryland State Police reported that alcohol and speed are believed to have contributed to the accident. However, officials have not released toxicology findings, estimated vehicle speeds, or additional evidence explaining how those factors contributed to the collision.
Authorities have not disclosed whether either driver attempted to avoid the impact or whether other motorists witnessed the vehicles before the crash. Police also have not released information about any additional occupants, and the report identifies only the two deceased drivers.
The collision caused significant traffic disruptions along I-95 while emergency personnel responded and investigators examined the scene. All northbound lanes were closed, along with lane one of southbound I-95, to allow authorities to conduct their investigation.
The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration assisted with road closures and traffic management. Officers from the Howard County Police Department also responded to support Maryland State Police troopers.
All northbound lanes of I-95 subsequently reopened after investigators completed the necessary work at the scene. The available report did not provide a confirmed reopening time for the affected southbound lane.
The Maryland State Police Crash Team is leading the investigation into the fatal collision. Investigators are working to determine the sequence of events, how the vehicles came to occupy the same lane while traveling in opposite directions, and the role alcohol and speed may have played.
Additional information may become available as authorities complete their investigation and review the evidence collected from the accident scene.
Understanding Your Rights After a Fatal Wrong-Way Accident in Howard County
Wrong-way collisions are among the most dangerous types of highway accidents because vehicles traveling in opposite directions can collide with significant force. Unlike many rear-end or sideswipe accidents, a wrong-way collision may involve a direct frontal impact, placing vehicle occupants at risk of catastrophic injuries.
When a wrong-way collision results in fatalities, investigators must determine how the driver entered the opposing lanes and whether impairment, speeding, roadway conditions, or other factors contributed to the accident.
Under car accident laws in Maryland, surviving family members may have grounds to pursue a wrongful death claim when another person’s negligence causes a fatal collision. However, the availability of compensation depends on the evidence and applicable legal requirements.
Anyone searching for a car accident near me or a car accident near Howard County should understand that Maryland follows strict negligence rules that can significantly affect personal injury and wrongful death claims.
An official car accident report may provide information about the vehicles’ directions of travel, the location of the collision, and the investigating officers’ preliminary findings. Additional evidence may be necessary to determine exactly what happened.
Why Are Wrong-Way Highway Accidents So Dangerous?
Wrong-way accidents often involve vehicles traveling toward one another at highway speeds. When two vehicles collide head-on, the impact can cause severe damage and expose occupants to substantial forces.
Drivers traveling in the correct direction may have limited time to recognize that another vehicle is approaching against traffic. Darkness, roadway curves, and surrounding traffic can make it difficult to identify the danger and respond safely.
These conditions may increase the risk of serious injuries, although investigators must determine which circumstances were present in each accident.
In the Howard County collision, authorities reported that a 2025 Jeep Gladiator was traveling southbound while a 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee was traveling northbound. The vehicles collided in lane one of the northbound lanes of Interstate 95.
Both drivers died at the scene. Investigators have not released information about the vehicles’ speeds or the distance either driver traveled before the collision.
Wrong-way accidents may occur when a motorist enters a highway using an exit ramp, becomes confused at an interchange, or fails to recognize roadway signs. Impairment and other driver-related factors can also contribute to these collisions.
However, the Maryland State Police have not explained how the southbound vehicle entered the northbound lanes in this case.
How Do Alcohol and Speed Affect a Fatal Accident Investigation?
Alcohol impairment can affect a driver’s judgment, reaction time, coordination, and ability to recognize roadway hazards. Excessive speed may also reduce the time available to react and increase the severity of a collision.
Maryland Transportation Article § 21-902 establishes prohibitions concerning driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs and driving while impaired under specified circumstances.
Maryland law also establishes speed restrictions and requires motorists to operate their vehicles in accordance with applicable traffic laws.
When investigators suspect impairment, they may review toxicology findings, witness statements, roadway evidence, and other available information. Vehicle data and accident reconstruction findings may also help determine how fast a vehicle was traveling before a collision.
In the Howard County accident, Maryland State Police indicated that alcohol and speed are believed to have contributed to the crash. However, authorities have not disclosed which driver, if either, was impaired or speeding.
The preliminary findings should not be interpreted as confirmation that either individual violated a particular law. The investigation remains ongoing, and additional evidence may affect the final determination.
Can Families File Wrongful Death Claims After a Fatal Highway Collision?
Maryland law allows certain surviving family members to pursue wrongful death claims when a person’s death results from another party’s legally actionable conduct.
Under Maryland Courts and Judicial Proceedings Article § 3-904, qualifying beneficiaries may include a deceased person’s spouse, parents, and children. Other relatives may qualify under specific circumstances established by law.
Potential damages may include certain financial losses and legally recognized noneconomic losses resulting from the death. The types of damages available depend on the circumstances and the applicable legal requirements.
A wrongful death action is separate from a survival action, which may allow a deceased person’s estate to pursue certain claims the person could have brought had they survived.
In the Howard County collision, both drivers died at the scene. Determining whether either driver’s surviving family members have grounds to pursue a claim would require an examination of the evidence establishing how the accident occurred.
The fact that one vehicle was traveling against traffic may be important, but investigators must still determine the circumstances surrounding the collision and whether legally actionable negligence occurred.
Maryland generally provides three years to file a wrongful death lawsuit under Courts and Judicial Proceedings Article § 3-904. Other claims may be subject to different requirements or exceptions.
Because both drivers died, any potential claims involving their estates or surviving family members may require additional consideration of the evidence and applicable law.
How Does Maryland’s Contributory Negligence Rule Affect Accident Claims?
Maryland follows a contributory negligence system, which differs from the comparative negligence rules used in many other states.
Under Maryland’s general contributory negligence rule, a person whose own negligence contributes to an accident may be barred from recovering damages, subject to recognized exceptions.
This rule can make evidence especially important in accidents involving questions about the actions of more than one driver.
For example, investigators may examine whether a motorist was traveling in the correct direction, obeying speed limits, maintaining proper control, and responding reasonably to roadway conditions.
However, a driver’s involvement in a collision does not automatically establish negligence. Each person’s actions must be evaluated according to the available evidence and applicable law.
People researching a car accident near me or a car accident near Howard County should understand that Maryland’s contributory negligence rule may affect the outcome of certain claims even when another driver also acted negligently.
In the I-95 collision, investigators reported that the vehicles were traveling in opposite directions and that alcohol and speed are suspected contributing factors. Authorities have not released enough information to establish the complete circumstances surrounding either driver’s conduct.
Until the investigation is completed, questions concerning potential civil responsibility remain unresolved.
What Evidence Is Important After a Fatal Wrong-Way Collision?
Fatal highway collisions often require extensive accident reconstruction because investigators must determine how the vehicles approached one another and what occurred immediately before impact.
Photographs of vehicle damage, roadway debris, skid marks, and the final positions of the vehicles may help establish the sequence of events.
Investigators may also examine highway entrance and exit ramps, traffic signs, roadway markings, and available surveillance footage to determine where a wrong-way driver entered the highway.
Witness statements may provide information about the vehicles’ movements before the collision. Other motorists may have observed a vehicle traveling against traffic before the impact occurred.
Vehicle event data recorders may also contain information relevant to speed, braking, and other vehicle operations, depending on the vehicle and available data.
An official car accident report may document the responding officers’ observations and preliminary findings, but additional evidence may be necessary to determine the precise cause.
In the Howard County collision, the Maryland State Police Crash Team is leading the investigation. Authorities have not released final findings concerning the vehicles’ speeds, possible impairment, or the circumstances that caused them to travel toward one another.
The investigation may help establish whether one or more traffic violations contributed to the accident and whether any additional factors played a role.
What Should Families Know About Insurance After a Fatal Crash?
Fatal accidents can raise complicated insurance questions, particularly when both drivers die and investigators are examining the actions of each motorist.
Maryland generally requires automobile liability insurance with minimum coverage of $30,000 for bodily injury or death to one person, $60,000 for bodily injury or death to two or more people in one accident, and $15,000 for property damage.
Depending on the circumstances, uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage may also become relevant to a potential claim.
Insurance coverage does not automatically establish legal responsibility, and the availability of compensation depends on policy terms, applicable law, and the evidence surrounding the accident.
When both drivers are deceased, insurers may review the investigation findings before determining how to evaluate potential claims.
Families may also need to address funeral expenses, vehicle damage, and other financial matters arising from the collision.
Maryland’s wrongful death and survival action rules establish different legal requirements, making it important to distinguish claims belonging to surviving beneficiaries from claims that may belong to an estate.
In the Howard County accident, authorities have not released information about either driver’s insurance coverage or whether any civil claims have been filed.
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE
This article reflects information reported by CBS Baltimore on November 7, 2026, including statements attributed to the Maryland State Police. The collision occurred early Saturday morning, and the Maryland State Police Crash Team continues investigating the circumstances surrounding the accident.
- Two drivers killed: Authorities identified the deceased motorists as Taleb Ait Zakariae, 37, of Rosedale, and Timothy Summerville, 47, of Baltimore. Both men were pronounced dead at the accident scene.
- Crash location and time: The collision occurred shortly before 4:30 a.m. Saturday in the northbound lanes of Interstate 95 near Elkridge in Howard County. Troopers from the Maryland State Police Waterloo Barrack responded after receiving reports of a two-vehicle accident.
- Vehicles traveling in opposite directions: Investigators reported that Zakariae was traveling southbound in a 2025 Jeep Gladiator while Summerville was traveling northbound in a 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The vehicles collided while traveling in opposite directions within lane one of the highway.
- Alcohol and speed suspected: Maryland State Police believe alcohol and speed contributed to the fatal collision. Authorities have not released toxicology findings, estimated vehicle speeds, or final investigative findings.
- Highway closures: All northbound lanes of I-95 and lane one of southbound I-95 were closed during the investigation, with all northbound lanes later reopening. Readers can review our frequently asked questions in Maryland for additional information about accident-related claims.
- Investigation continues: The Maryland State Police Crash Team is leading the investigation, with assistance from the Howard County Police Department and Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration. Surviving families can explore accident resources in Maryland for further information.
This article is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or medical advice. Information reflects publicly available reports and may change as investigators release additional findings. The suspected involvement of alcohol and speed does not establish that either driver violated the law, and no final determination of negligence or civil liability should be assumed. Please review our disclaimer for further details.
Fatal wrong-way highway accidents can leave surviving families facing funeral expenses, financial losses, and difficult questions about what caused the collision. Maryland law establishes specific requirements for wrongful death claims, survival actions, contributory negligence, and automobile insurance coverage. A Maryland personal injury lawyer can review the available evidence, explain applicable filing deadlines, and discuss whether surviving family members may have grounds to pursue compensation following a fatal highway accident.