On September 5, 2015 at approximately 1539hrs., Calvert
County Sheriff’s Office Patrol units were dispatched to a serious personal
injury crash on Maryland Route 231 near Heather Road in Prince Frederick. Upon arrival units observed a 2009 Chevrolet
Silverado and a 2003 GMC Envoy with heavy front end damage. It was evident the vehicles had been involved
in a head on offset collision. The
passenger compartment of the GMC Envoy was severely compromised during the
collision.
There were two patients in the Envoy and one in the Silverado.
Due to the extent of the driver of the Envoy’s injuries,
Patrol Units called for the Crash Reconstruction Team to respond to assist with
the investigation. Members from the
Prince Frederick Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad, the Huntingtown
Volunteer Fire Department and Calvert Advanced Life Support responded to the
scene and extricated the patients from both vehicles.
The driver of the Envoy was severely injured during the
collision and was transported to Calvert Memorial Hospital where he was
pronounced deceased by the emergency room doctor. The deceased was identified as Peter
Schroeder, 59, of Chesapeake Beach, Maryland.
The front seat passenger of the Envoy was the wife of the deceased, Mary
Schroeder, 54, also of Chesapeake Beach. Mary Schroeder was transported to the Medstar
trauma center in Washington DC via MSP helicopter where she is listed in
serious but stable condition.
The driver of the Silverado was identified as Robert Rambo,
57, of Prince Frederick, Maryland. Rambo
was transported via MSP helicopter to Medstar trauma center in Washington DC
where he is listed in stable condition.
Preliminary investigation by the Crash Reconstruction Team
revealed the Chevrolet Silverado operated by Rambo was travelling westbound
along Maryland Route 231 when it crossed the double yellow center line and
drove onto the shoulder. The GMC Envoy
was travelling eastbound on Rt. 231. The
operator of the Envoy drove onto the eastbound shoulder in an effort to avoid
being struck by the Chevrolet Silverado.
The Chevrolet Silverado struck the Envoy on the eastbound shoulder,
pushing the Envoy backwards, and destroyed the Envoy’s passenger compartment. The Crash Reconstruction Team members
gathered all pertinent evidence from the scene and documented their findings.
The Patrol Units on scene detected the odor of an alcoholic
beverage emitting from the passenger compartment of Rambo’s vehicle. Deputies responded to Medstar in Washington
DC where a blood draw was administered to determine blood alcohol content. It is believed alcohol and driver error are the
major contributing factors in this crash.
If you witnessed this crash or the series of events that led
up to it please contact Deputy First Class Jeff Hardesty of the Calvert County
Sheriff’s Office Crash Reconstruction Team.
Dfc. Hardesty can be reached at 410-535-2800 or email him at
hardesje@co.cal.md.us.
