Published on: Wednesday, November 07, 2012

By Jim Davis

A Lanham man was killed early last Wednesday morning on the Beltway causing a 14-mile back up during the morning rush hour.

Just after 5 a.m. Oct. 31, Maryland State Police responded to the outer loop of the Beltway near the New Hampshire Avenue exit for a reported motor vehicle accident involving several vehicles.

According to Maryland State Police officials, Kwame Abban, 44, of Lanham, was driving his 1997 Toyota Corolla on the outer loop when he stopped his vehicle in the roadway causing a 2007 Nissan Sentra driven by Jessica Smith, 31, of White Hall, to crash into the rear of his Corolla.

According to Maryland State Police, seconds later, a 2005 Sterling tractor driven by Anthony Reil, 44, of Bentonville, Va., also crashed into the rear of the Corolla, causing it to spin around and face the opposite direction.

Abban was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead, police officials said.

Maryland State Police officials also said Smith and Reil were not injured in the accident.

Police believe all drivers were wearing seat belts.

Due to the severity of the crash, troopers had to close westbound I-495 for about five hours. Prince George’s County Police and State Highway Administration personnel assisted with the closure.