Five Injured In Fiery Accident

OCEAN CITY -- Five people were injured, including one with serious burns, after a fiery crash involving three vehicles in the area of 67th Street and Coastal Highway early Monday morning.

Shortly after midnight on Monday, Ocean City police responded to the area of Coastal Highway and 67th Street for a reported multi-vehicle collision. The investigation revealed Daniel Becker, 19, of Elkton, was driving north on Coastal Highway in a reckless manner and struck the front driver’s side of a Honda Accord, which was also heading north. The impact of the collision forced the Honda onto the sidewalk in the area of 67th Street where it struck several trees.

Becker’s Ford Mustang also struck several trees and spun back into the highway, bursting into flames near the center median in what some witnesses characterized as an explosion. During the course of the accident, the Mustang also collided with a Jeep Commander, forcing that vehicle off the roadway near 68th Street and into a street sign.

In all, five individuals were transported to area hospitals with varying injuries, none of which appeared to be life-threatening. The driver of the Jeep, the driver and passenger of the Honda and one passenger in the Mustang were transported to PRMC. An additional passenger in the Mustang, however, sustained serious burns in the fiery crash and was transported by Maryland State Police helicopter first to PRMC and later to the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center in Baltimore.

Becker was not injured in the crash. He was arrested and charged with driving under the influence, driving while impaired, negligent driving, reckless driving, unsafe lane change and speeding. One witness reported the Mustang was racing, but that has not been confirmed. Becker was released later on Monday after posting a $25,000 bond.