BROOKLYN, Anne Arundel County, Md., Oct. 10, 2026 — A three-vehicle crash on northbound I-97 at the I-695 interchange in Brooklyn, Maryland left at least one child injured on Thursday morning, October 8.
The crash was reported around 8:23 a.m. where northbound I-97 meets westbound I-695, according to the report. Three vehicles were involved, and drivers in the area were urged to watch for the activity as crews responded.
At least one child suffered a reported injury in the crash. The extent of that injury has not been released, and no additional injuries have been confirmed at this time.
Details on what led to the crash, including how traffic was affected and whether any citations resulted, have not been released. The incident remains under review.
We hope those who were hurt recover fully and quickly.
What Actually Cuts Down Multi-Vehicle Pile-Ups at Interchanges
Visibility problems, not just speed, set up many chain-reaction crashes. Fog, smoke, heavy rain, or low morning sun glare can cut the distance a driver can see to a fraction of normal, especially where ramps merge and lanes shift near an interchange. A driver who can't see brake lights until the last second has almost no time to react, and the vehicles behind them have even less.
Road design plays a real part in reducing these crashes. Better lighting at interchange approaches, wider sightlines on ramps, variable speed-limit signs that slow traffic ahead of a glare or fog patch, and well-timed signals on nearby surface roads all cut down the seconds of surprise that turn a single slowdown into a pile-up. Median barriers and clearer lane markings also help drivers judge gaps correctly when visibility drops.
Driver behavior still matters alongside the engineering. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 17,008 motor-vehicle crash deaths occurred outside passenger vehicles in crashes involving passenger vehicles in 2023, a reminder that the people most exposed in any chain-reaction crash are usually not in the cars that trigger it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What causes multi-vehicle pile-ups?
They usually start with one vehicle slowing or stopping suddenly, usually because of reduced visibility, congestion, or a smaller crash ahead, and the vehicles behind don't have enough following distance or warning to stop in time.
How can drivers avoid getting caught in a pile-up?
Keeping extra following distance in poor visibility and reducing speed before entering an interchange gives more reaction time if traffic ahead slows unexpectedly.
What should I do if I'm stopped near a crash on the highway?
Stay in the vehicle with a seatbelt on if it's not safe to exit, turn on hazard lights, and move to the shoulder only if the vehicle is drivable and it's safe to do so.
What to Do After a Multi-Vehicle Crash in Brooklyn, Maryland
If you're involved in or witness a multi-vehicle crash in Brooklyn, move to a safe location if possible and check on anyone who may be hurt, including children, before doing anything else. Call 911 even for what looks like a minor injury, since some symptoms take hours to appear. Anyone involved should get a medical evaluation the same day, and it's worth asking for a written report number from responding officers for insurance and record purposes. Keep an eye on children involved in a crash for signs of shock or delayed pain even if they seem fine at the scene.
