Lexington Park, MD (July 15, 2026) – Four people were hurt in a two-vehicle crash on Three Notch Road near FDR Boulevard in Lexington Park on Tuesday afternoon, July 14. The collision was reported at approximately 2:35 p.m., near Ledo Pizza.
Emergency units arrived to find two vehicles in the roadway and evaluated multiple patients at the scene. Three people were taken by ambulance to MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital, including a 17-year-old girl experiencing chest pain and difficulty breathing and an 18-year-old woman who also requested medical evaluation.
A Maryland State Police helicopter was requested for a woman approximately 50 years old. The aircraft landed at nearby Lexington Park Elementary School and airlifted the patient to UM Capital Region Medical Center for treatment.
The cause of the accident remains under active investigation. We hope all four people hurt make full recoveries.
What Happens When Crash Patients Need Different Levels of Care?
When a crash results in multiple patients with varying injuries, emergency units conduct triage at the scene to determine the most appropriate level of care and transport for each patient. Those with less severe injuries may be taken by ground ambulance to a nearby hospital, while patients with more serious or complex injuries may require air transport to a trauma center better equipped to handle their needs. This coordinated approach helps ensure each patient reaches the right facility as quickly as possible.
Chest pain and difficulty breathing following a crash can indicate a range of conditions, from anxiety and muscular strain to more serious issues like a pneumothorax or rib fractures. Because these symptoms can worsen quickly, patients presenting with them are typically prioritized for evaluation and monitoring even when their overall condition appears stable. Medical teams at the scene make transport decisions based on the full picture of each patient’s presentation.
State police aviation units use nearby open spaces like school parking lots or athletic fields as improvised landing zones when a hospital helipad is not within close range of a crash. Coordination between ground crews and the flight team begins as soon as air transport is requested, so the helicopter can be positioned and ready by the time the patient is stabilized for transport.
