A man died early Tuesday after fleeing police and jumping off an overpass onto Interstate 495 in Lanham, where he was struck by oncoming traffic.
Maryland State Police have not identified the man, but said that the incident began around 3 a.m. when a state trooper pulled over the Hyundai the man was driving.
The trooper attempted to stop the man for an unspecified minor traffic violation on Interstate 495 near Interstate 295, Sgt. Jon Hill said. When the trooper exited his vehicle, the driver of the Hyundai drove off and the trooper got back in his vehicle to pursue the car.
The Hyundai exited I-495 onto eastbound Route 50, where the car crashed into the barriers on the on-ramp. The driver then exited the car and ran, eventually leaping from the on-ramp and landing in the fast lane of I-495 below the ramp. An oncoming 2009 Toyota truck struck the man.
It is unclear whether the man died from the fall or after being struck by the truck, Sgt. Hill said. Authorities were investigating the incident Tuesday.
Lanes were closed for up to three hours as a result of the crash investigation.
• Andrea Noble can be reached at anoble@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.