Delmar Highway Worker Killed in Maryland

Dipakkumar Patel, a 70-year-old highway worker from Delmar, died Tuesday in a crash at U.S. 13 and King Miller Road in Princess Anne. (news.maryland.gov) Maryland State Police said troopers were called shortly before 12:40 p.m. on April 28 to the northbound lanes, where Patel was working on a highway maintenance project. (news.maryland.gov) (wmdt.com) Investigators said a 2020 Chrysler Pacifica hit a 2022 Honda Accord from behind, pushing the Honda into Patel’s parked Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration truck. Patel was inside the truck. (news.maryland.gov) Emergency crews from Somerset County pronounced Patel dead at the scene, and police said the two civilian drivers were taken to TidalHealth Peninsula Regional for treatment. (news.maryland.gov) (delmarvanow.com) The crash shut down northbound U.S. 13 for about four hours while Maryland State Police, the Crash Team and state highway officials investigated the scene. (news.maryland.gov) Patel’s death came days after Maryland marked National Work Zone Awareness Week, a yearly safety campaign focused on slowing down and watching for road crews. (wmdt.com) (aol.com) AOL and other local reports said Patel was the second Maryland highway worker killed within 72 hours, underscoring how quickly roadside jobs can turn deadly. (aol.com) (wboc.com) Maryland State Police said the investigation is continuing and did not announce charges Tuesday. Patel was killed while sitting in a marked work vehicle on a state highway. (news.maryland.gov)