Accokeek, Md. – A shadow of sorrow hangs over two Maryland communities following separate hit-and-run accidents on Highway 210 that claimed the lives of two mothers within 24 hours. The tragic incidents have cast a spotlight on the notorious stretch of road, infamously dubbed the “highway of death,” for its alarming record of traffic fatalities.
Loretta Lynn Canter, 40, a mother of three, was struck by a vehicle near Farmington Road in Accokeek at approximately 9:50 p.m. on November 22. Prince George’s County Police reported that Canter was found deceased at the scene, marking a grim addition to the highway’s toll.
In a parallel tragedy, Sandra Abarca Orellana, 52, also a mother of three, met a similar fate while crossing a different portion of Highway 210 in Oxon Hill after 9 p.m. on November 21. A responding off-duty police officer discovered Orellana, who was likewise pronounced dead at the scene.
The vehicle that struck Orellana is described as a burgundy, four-door sedan. Details concerning the vehicle involved in Canter’s death remain undisclosed. Authorities have issued a public appeal seeking information that could lead to the identification of the culprits behind both incidents, who fled the scenes.
The frequency of deadly accidents along Highway 210 has become a troubling pattern. Since 2007, nearly 100 fatalities have been recorded on this road, according to data tracked by the local Route 210 Traffic Safety Committee. The committee began documenting these incidents the same year in hopes of raising public awareness and advocating for improved road safety measures.
2024 has been a particularly lethal year on Highway 210, with 21 fatalities recorded thus far, including 11 from hit-and-run incidents. Ron Weiss, the founder of the safety committee, expressed his dismay to local reporters, lamenting the proximity of the latest tragedies to the holiday season and highlighting the ongoing road safety crisis.
The impact of the tragedies extends beyond statistics and safety campaigns, touching the hearts of the victims’ families. Canter’s children, overwhelmed with grief, remember their mother in intensely personal terms. Her son poignantly noted the family milestones she would miss, including Thanksgiving, her upcoming birthday, and Christmas. Canter’s family has initiated a GoFundMe campaign to cover funeral expenses, as they endeavor to find some solace amid their loss.
These consecutive tragedies serve as a stark reminder of the urgent need for enhanced safety measures and enforcement on Highway 210. Community advocates, local authorities, and residents continue to call for substantive changes to transform the “highway of death” into a safer passage, hoping to prevent further loss of life on this perilous stretch of road. The community’s resolve to tackle this longstanding safety issue underscores a collective aspiration to forestall future tragedies and secure a safer environment for all commuters.