Two people died in a rear-end collision on southbound U.S. Route 301 in Brandywine late Monday night when their Nissan Maxima struck the back of a Freightliner tractor-trailer, prompting an ongoing investigation by Maryland State Police.
The crash occurred shortly before midnight on March 9, 2026, at the intersection of U.S. Route 301 and Brandywine Road in Prince George’s County. Troopers from the Maryland State Police Forestville Barrack responded around 11:58 p.m. to reports of a two-vehicle crash.
According to the preliminary investigation released March 10, 2026, both vehicles were traveling southbound on Route 301 when, for reasons still under review, the Nissan Maxima driven by Douglas Orlando Smith, 39, of Brandywine, Maryland, collided with the rear of the Freightliner. Smith was pronounced deceased at the scene. A passenger in the Nissan, whose name is being withheld pending notification of next of kin, was also pronounced deceased at the scene. The driver of the Freightliner tractor-trailer sustained no injuries.
Southbound lanes remained closed for about five hours while investigators processed the scene. The Maryland State Police Crash Team is leading the active investigation into the cause, including any contributing factors such as speed, distraction, impairment, or mechanical issues.
The incident highlights persistent safety concerns on this busy corridor in Southern Maryland’s Prince George’s County, where high-speed travel and commercial traffic frequently intersect. Route 301 serves as a major north-south artery connecting communities like Brandywine to Washington, D.C., and points south, carrying significant commuter and truck volumes.
No additional details on weather conditions, vehicle speeds, or potential charges have been released as the probe continues. Authorities have not indicated whether toxicology tests or black-box data from the vehicles are part of the review.
The Maryland State Police provided the initial facts in a news release issued March 10, 2026, emphasizing that the investigation remains ongoing.