Man in serious condition after early morning collision

Reckless driving, alcohol contributed to accident, police say

A head-on collision early Saturday morning on Route 50 in Anne Arundel County sent two men to the Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore, according to police.

Ryan Christopher John, 24, of Greenbelt, was driving a 2007 blue Honda Civic east in the westbound on lanes of Route 50 near the Bay Dale Drive overpass, when at approximately 4:30 a.m., he struck a black 2005 Kia driven by Michael Dickinson Gurd, 23, of Bethesda, who was driving in the westbound middle lane of the highway, head on.

After Anne Arundel County firefighters extricated both men from their automobiles, they were transported by a Maryland State Police helicopter to the Maryland Shock Trauma Center, where John was treated and released, and where Gurd remains hospitalized in serious condition.

County police said yesterday that while the accident remains under investigation, initial reports indicate that negligent and reckless driving, driving error and alcohol were contributing factors in the accident.

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