Eastern District police report a pedestrian was struck at around 10:20pm Jan. 8, 2011 at Ritchie Highway Southbound where the pedestrian was crossing from the west side of the highway to the east, just north of Robinson Road.

Eastern District police officers were dispatched to the area for a report of a motor vehicle crash involving a pedestrian.

The initial investigation revealed that the pedestrian, James Howard Minnix, 50, of Severna Park, was crossing from the west side of Ritchie Hwy to the east side.  He was crossing the southbound lanes of traffic approximately .09 miles north of the provided crosswalk at the intersection of Ritchie Hwy and Robinson Rd. 

He was struck by a 1996 Plymouth Grand Voyager van that was traveling southbound on Ritchie Highway. After being struck by the van he was thrown to the roadway.  Minnix was then struck by a 2002 Ford F-150 truck.  Both vehicles stopped after striking the pedestrian.

Due to the extent of the pedestrian’s injuries the Traffic Safety Section was requested to respond.  Anne Arundel County Fire Department Medic 30 transported the victim to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma.  He was pronounced dead by the hospital staff at Shock Trauma.  The occupants of the vehicles were not injured.

The initial investigation indicates that pedestrian error and alcohol on the part of the pedestrian may have been factors in this crash.  The Traffic Safety Section will be continuing the investigation of this crash.