LA PLATA, Md. — A fatal collision occurred on Saturday, September 28, 2024, on Maryland Route 488 at Grant Chapman Road, resulting in the death of one motorist. According to the Maryland State Police (MSP), the incident took place around 4:33 p.m. and involved a motorcycle and a pickup truck.
The Maryland State Police CRASH Team responded to the scene to investigate the collision, which involved a Suzuki GSXR-1000 motorcycle, driven by Luke Robert Vandegrift, 24, of Nanjemoy, Maryland, and a Ram 1500 pickup truck driven by Anthony Lacefield, 41, of La Plata, Maryland.
According to preliminary findings from MSP Troopers at the La Plata Barrack, Vandegrift was traveling eastbound on Maryland Route 488 at a high rate of speed when the collision occurred. Lacefield was making a left turn from Grant Chapman Road onto westbound Maryland Route 488 when the motorcycle collided with the side of the truck.
As a result of the collision, the Ram 1500 spun approximately 180 degrees. Vandegrift was pronounced dead at the scene, while Lacefield declined treatment for any injuries. The investigation revealed that Vandegrift had an unregistered Polymer 80 handgun, commonly referred to as a “ghost gun,” in his possession.
Authorities are looking into speed and driver error as potential factors contributing to the crash.
The Maryland State Police are urging any witnesses of the incident to come forward. Those with information can contact Sergeant J. Zimmerman of the MSP CRASH Team at (301) 392-1231 or email statements to justin.zimmerman@maryland.gov.
The investigation remains ongoing under case number 24-MSP-031838.
I don’t understand why this is being publicized. The poor guy passed away and it had nothing to do with a gun. He wasn’t running from the scene of a crime or from the police so why put this out there? In my opinion the only thing it could possibly accomplish is to tarnish someone’s reputation when they are no longer here to defend themselves. What if he had taken the gun off someone that was threatening to harm themselves? I’m just saying nobody knows why he had that on him and it had nothing to do with his death so why post it? I’m not family, a friend, or even a acquaintance of his either.