WYE MILLS, MARYLAND (1/10/2015) Five members of a Virginia family, as well as an unborn child, died in a crash involving a tractor-trailer and a small car on U.S. 50 early today, Maryland State Police said. The driver of the rig, which overturned, was from Wilmington, Delaware.
U.S. 50 — also known as Ocean Gateway — is a major highway for travelers heading to Delaware and Maryland beaches. The crash happened about 1:15 a.m. and all lanes remained closed until 9:30 a.m.
Police remained on the scene at the Route 213 intersection investigating and several wreckers were working to remove the tractor-trailer. The tractor-trailer overturned on the south side of U.S. 50, partially on property of Chesapeake College.
Police identified those killed as:
- Regina M. Ayres, 24, of Greenbush, Va;
- Zarissa Ayres, 30, and her unborn child, of Greenbush, Va., (Regina’s sister)
- Jordan Ayres, 7, of Greenbush, Va., (Regina’s daughter)
- Travis M. Straton, 25, of Onancock, Va., (Regina’s boyfriend)
- Jonathan Ayres, two months, of Greenbush, Va. (son of Regina and Travis Stratton)
The family was traveling in a 2006 Suzuki Forenza. Four of the five were pronounced dead at the scene. Zarissa Ayres, who was pregnant, was taken by ambulance to Easton Memorial Hospital, where both she and her unborn child were pronounced dead, police said.
Investigators have been unable to determine who was driving the car, police spokesman Greg Shipley said.
The tractor-trailer driver was identified as Yvenet Mayette, 28. He was flown by Maryland State Police helicopter to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore, where he is being treated for injuries.
Shipley said preliminary investigation indicates the car carrying the Ayres family was westbound on U.S. 50 approaching the intersection, and the tractor-trailer was southbound on Route 213. The truck collided with the passenger side of the car in the intersection, which is controlled by a traffic light.
Shipley said the tractor-trailer apparently rolled over the car before coming to rest.
Shipley said the Ayres family left Greenbush, on the Virginia Eastern Shore, on Friday night for a trip to Baltimore to visit family. He said the tractor-trailer driver was headed to his home in Delaware.
The trailer was reportedly loaded with 44,000 pounds of polyfiber the driver had picked up Friday afternoon in Charlotte, North Carolina. The trailer was ripped open in the crash and part of the load spilled out.
The tractor-trailer is owned by Nationwide Solutions, LLC, of St. John, Indiana.
A cause of the crash remains under investigation, Shipley said, and there is no indication that alcohol was a factor. He said it is unknown which direction had the red light.
No charges have been filed.
Shipley asked anyone who witnessed the crash to contact police at 410-758-1101, ext. 7.
Police had originally given a different spelling for Zarissa Ayres’ first name.