Crime & Safety

Dundalk Woman, 40, Killed Monday in Beltway Accident

According to police, witnesses observed the woman's vehicle traveling in an erratic manner prior to crash into concrete barrier.

A Dundalk woman died Monday evening after crashing into a concrete barrier on the outer loop of I-695 Beltway near Frederick Road after reportedly making numerous lane changes, according to Maryland State Police.

Mellany Jean Dudney, 40, of the 3100 block of Sollers Point Road, was pronounced dead at 6:55 p.m. yesterday by emergency medical personnel arriving at the scene.

Dudney was identified as the driver and sole of occupant of the vehicle, a 2007 Nissan Sentra, in the single car crash.

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Witnesses observed Dudney’s vehicle traveling in a reckless manner prior to the collision, according to Maryland State Police. Dudney’s vehicle was reported to have been making numerous lane changes on the outer loop of I-695 prior to Frederick Road before it struck the concrete barrier on the left side of the roadway.  

A piece of glare screen attached to the concrete barrier became detached and entered the vehicle through the driver’s side headlight, passing the dashboard, and eventually striking Dudney in the neck. Dudney’s vehicle traveled to the right across all lanes of traffic and came to final rest in the grass median off the roadway.  

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There was no evidence that alcohol or any other substance contributed to this collision, according to Maryland State Police.  A forensic investigator transported Dudney’s body to the medical examiner’s office for an autopsy.

Dudney’s next of kin was notified of her death.


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