Deputies from the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office are investigating a serious motor vehicle collision that occurred Tuesday, January 7, 2026, at approximately 10:44 a.m. at the intersection of South Solomons Island Road (Maryland Route 4) and Ball Road in St. Leonard, Calvert County.
The crash involved three vehicles: a 2019 Freightliner truck, a 2007 International truck, and a 2024 Tesla passenger vehicle. The Tesla driver sustained life-threatening injuries and remains in critical condition at a local trauma center after being airlifted by Maryland State Police Aviation Command.
The preliminary investigation shows that the Freightliner truck, operated by Erbert Locklear Jr., 64, of Baltimore, was traveling southbound on Route 4 approaching the intersection. A 2007 International truck, driven by Ronald E. Matthews, 57, of Mechanicsville, was stopped at the traffic signal in the southbound lanes, with the Tesla, operated by Nikola Medenica, 36, of Arlington, Virginia, stopped behind it. The Freightliner struck the rear of the Tesla, pushing it into the rear of the International truck. This rear-end chain collision crushed the Tesla between the two heavier commercial trucks, trapping the driver.
Due to the crash severity, the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office Crash Reconstruction Team was requested and has assumed the investigation. Deputy First Class M. Lewis of the Crash Reconstruction Team is leading the effort. Locklear and Matthews were treated at the scene by emergency medical personnel and released. Anyone with information is asked to contact DFC Lewis at 410-535-2800 or via email at mike.lewis.jr@calvertcountymd.gov.
The St. Leonard Volunteer Fire Department responded immediately, with Paramedic Ambulance 203 and Chief 7 arriving during the initial dispatch. Chief 7 confirmed the entrapment and requested early activation of aviation support. Squad 7 popped the Tesla’s door to access the patient, assisted by Squad 2 in extrication and transfer to the ambulance stretcher. Ambulance 77 evaluated the box truck driver, while Engine 22 established a landing zone for the incoming helicopter. Maryland State Police Trooper 7 coordinated patient packaging and air transport with Paramedic Ambulance 203’s crew. Units included A-77 and Sq-7 from St. Leonard, with mutual aid from Sq-2, E-22, A204, PA204, Medic 20, and Medic 20B.
The incident temporarily shut down both directions of Route 4, a major commuter and tourist corridor in Southern Maryland connecting Calvert County communities. The St. Leonard Volunteer Fire Department, a fully volunteer organization, provides critical fire, rescue, and emergency medical services to the area, often managing high-acuity responses on busy roadways. The rapid coordination among local responders, mutual aid units, and state aviation resources facilitated timely extrication and medical intervention in this entrapment scenario involving a severely damaged passenger vehicle.
Route 4, also known as Solomons Island Road, carries significant daily traffic through central Calvert County, heightening the risk of serious collisions, particularly when passenger cars are positioned between commercial trucks. Rear-end crashes like this one can result from factors such as following too closely or driver inattention, though the ongoing investigation has not yet determined contributing causes. The crash highlights the vital role of volunteer emergency services in Southern Maryland, where departments like St. Leonard rely on community support to maintain readiness for incidents on regional highways.