MARSHALL, Md. — Maryland State Police are investigating a serious crash in northern Harford County that left one man dead Thursday morning.
The Harford County Fire Department said the crash happened just after 5:30 a.m. on MD-23/Norrisville Road at White Hall Road. Maryland State Police said troopers arrived at the scene to find a three-car crash involving three vans.
Police said a Dodge van being driven by 64-year-old Michael Ciarpella, of Jarrettsville, was stopped on MD-23 readying to make the turn onto White Hall Road. A Chevrolet Astro Van being driven by 66-year-old James McDonald, of Fallston, then struck the rear of the Dodge, pushing it into the path of a Ford van heading south on MD-23 and being driving by 31-year-old Joseph Wheeler, of Stewartstown, Pa.
The Ford and the Dodge collided. The Dodge's 43-year-old passenger, Mark Griffiths of Monkton, was taken to York Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced deceased. Ciarpella was taken to Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore by state police helicopter. McDonald and Wheeler refused treatment at the scene.
The accident closed MD-23 for about three hours. No charges have been filed yet, but Maryland State Police are still investigating.
