LARGO, Md. — A catastrophic multi-vehicle collision tore through the heart of Prince George’s County on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, leaving two women dead, five others injured, and a community grappling with grief. The chaos unfolded at the bustling intersection of Maryland Route 202 (Landover Road) and St. Joseph’s Drive, where a routine afternoon drive turned into a nightmare in an instant.
Around 12:40 p.m., Maryland State Police rushed to the scene after reports of a massive crash involving eight vehicles. According to investigators, the deadly chain reaction began when 28-year-old Tierra Johnson of Upper Marlboro, driving a Honda Accord northbound on Route 202, struck a curb divider near Woodmore Towne Centre. The impact sent her car airborne, hurtling into a Toyota Tundra. The force pushed the truck into a Dodge Grand Caravan, and the Accord continued its destructive path, slamming into four more vehicles, including a Mercedes-Benz E 300, before overturning.
The scene was harrowing. Emergency responders from the Prince George’s County Fire Department descended swiftly, working to triage victims amid the mangled wreckage. Tara Gross, 50, of Camp Springs, and Dandra Byrd, 31, of Riverdale, both occupants of the Mercedes-Benz, were pronounced dead at the scene. The loss of these two women has left their families and communities reeling, their lives cut short in a moment of unimaginable tragedy.
Five others, including Johnson, were rushed to the University of Maryland Capital Region Medical Center with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. Among the injured were a 92-year-old man and an 89-year-old woman, highlighting the indiscriminate toll of the crash. Several others were treated on-site for minor injuries or emerged miraculously unharmed.
Preliminary findings from the Maryland State Police Crash Team point to excessive speed as a critical factor in the disaster. Investigators are meticulously piecing together witness statements, vehicle data, and scene evidence to unravel the precise sequence of events. Charges are pending, with authorities consulting the Prince George’s County State’s Attorney’s Office to determine the next steps.
The crash brought Route 202 to a standstill, with northbound lanes closed until around 5:45 p.m. and some southbound lanes shuttered into the evening. Drivers were diverted to Lottsford Road as emergency crews worked tirelessly to clear the debris and assist victims. The ripple effects of the closure snarled traffic for hours, a stark reminder of the crash’s far-reaching impact.
Prince George’s County Council Member Shayla Adams-Stafford, representing the area, expressed profound sorrow. “My heartfelt prayers are with all who were involved, especially the families who lost loved ones, as well as those who witnessed this devastating event,” she said in a statement. She vowed to hold a meeting to explore safety measures for Route 202, a roadway that has seen too many accidents in recent years.
The tragedy has reignited calls for safer driving in a county striving toward its Vision Zero goal of eliminating traffic fatalities and serious injuries by 2040. Data from 2015-2018 shows Route 202 as part of the county’s High Injury Network, a corridor prone to severe crashes. Tuesday’s events underscore the urgency of addressing roadway safety to prevent such heartbreak.
As the investigation continues, the Prince George’s County community mourns the loss of Tara Gross and Dandra Byrd. Their deaths serve as a somber reminder of the fragility of life and the devastating consequences of a single moment of recklessness on the road. Authorities urge drivers to heed speed limits and drive with caution, hoping to spare other families the pain now felt by those left behind.
