Gaithersburg, MD (May 1, 2026) – A man died early Friday morning following a crash involving a Ride On bus and an SUV in Gaithersburg. The collision occurred around 5:00 a.m. at the intersection of Midcounty Highway and Woodfield Road.
Emergency units responded to the scene and found a severely damaged SUV on the roadway shoulder. The man inside the vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities have not released his identity or confirmed how many people were inside the SUV at the time of the crash.
The Ride On bus involved was heading to its first stop and had no passengers on board. The bus driver remained at the scene following the incident.
Road closures were put in place for several hours after the crash. Westbound lanes of Midcounty Highway were shut down at Goshen Road, and Goshen Road was also closed at Emory Grove Road. Eastbound lanes of Midcounty Highway remained open during the response.
Details about what led to the crash have not been released.
Authorities continue to investigate the cause of the crash, and more details will be released as soon as they become available. We extend our sincere condolences to the family of the deceased.
How Bus and Passenger Vehicle Crashes Can Impact Major Roadways
Crashes involving buses and passenger vehicles often lead to significant roadway disruptions, especially on multi-lane roads. Due to their size, buses can block multiple lanes, making it harder for traffic to move around the scene.
At intersections, collisions can occur more frequently when traffic signals and turning movements are involved. Even when buses are not carrying passengers, the force of a crash can cause serious damage to smaller vehicles.
Busy roads like Midcounty Highway typically carry steady traffic flow, which can make clearing a crash scene more complex. Lane closures and detours are often necessary to allow responders to work safely and remove damaged vehicles.
