Port Deposit Man Killed While Working on I-695; State Highway Subcontractor Struck on Shoulder

From Maryland State Police:

Troopers are investigating a crash which took the life of a man working along the shoulder of I-695 this afternoon in Baltimore County.

The victim is identified as John C. Kahl, 54, of the unit-block of Benjamin Park Drive, Port Deposit, Md. He was pronounced dead at the scene by Baltimore County medical personnel. Mr. Kahl was employed by Erosion Control & Landscape Service, Inc. The company is a subcontractor for the State Highway Administration.

The driver of the Ford pickup has been identified as Brian K. Seitz, 54, of the 1200 block of Drivers Road, Marriottsville , Maryland. He refused any medical treatment at the time of the crash.

A preliminary investigation has been conducted by troopers from the Maryland State Police CRASH Team with the assistance of personnel from the Golden Ring Barrack. The investigation indicates that around 2:00 p.m. today, a 2001 Ford pickup was traveling on the inner loop of I-695 in the area of Liberty Road. For reasons unknown at this time, the Ford left the travel portion of the road and continued onto the right shoulder.

Once on the shoulder, the vehicle struck the victim and a piece of landscaping equipment he was using to complete landscaping work on the right roadside.

There were two other workers at the scene when the crash occurred. They did not sustain any injuries from the crash. There has been no determination of vehicle speed at this time but a personal injury attorney has been contacted by the victim’s family for help in the investigation.

Due to the severity of the crash, troopers closed the inner loop I-695 in the area of Liberty Road for several hours. State Highway Administration personnel assisted with road closures.

Anyone who may have witnessed this crash is asked to contact the Maryland State Police, Golden Ring Barracks at (410) 780-2700.

The cause of the crash is unknown at this time. Charges are pending. The investigation is continuing.

SHA EXPRESSES CONDOLENCES TO WORKER’S FAMILY AND FRIENDS FOLLOWING TRAGIC FATAL WORK ZONE CRASH IN BALTIMORE COUNTY

From the Maryland State Highway Administration:

Following the tragic incident this afternoon in which a highway worker was killed, the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) expresses its condolences to the family, co-workers and friends of John Kahl. An employee of Erosion Control and Landscape Services (ECLS), a subcontractor to American Infrastructure, Mr. Kahl was working along the Baltimore Beltway today when the crash occurred just after 2 p.m.

“The men and women of SHA offer our deepest condolences to the family, friends and co-workers of Mr. Kahl. Our contractors are an extension of our SHA team and we are truly saddened by this tragedy,” said SHA Administrator Melinda B. Peters. “With yet another person killed while working along a Maryland highway today, we are solemnly reminded that every driver should remain alert and careful to keep workers safe.”

This incident occurred along the Inner Loop of I-695 (Baltimore Beltway) between exit 18 and 19 as part of preliminary work for the I-695 Bridge replacement project over Milford Mill Road in Baltimore County set to begin construction this spring.

It is critical that motorists remember that work zone safety is everyone’s business and that construction zones require every driver’s full attention. Lives of both workers and motorists are at stake. At anytime, there may be hundreds of active work zones across Maryland.