A car accident in Carroll County, Maryland, resulted in the deaths of four people, including a pair of grandparents and their grandson, after their vehicle was struck and pushed into oncoming traffic late Saturday afternoon, November 4, 2023.
The crash occurred on Liberty Road when a Chevrolet Equinox, driven by 72-year-old Charles Black III, with passengers Barbara Black, 69, Charles’ wife, Debbie Hill, 63, Barbara’s sister, the Black’s grandson Gage Black,17, and 15-year-old Phillip Ceresa, stopped to make a left turn onto Skidmore Road. A Saturn vehicle, driven by a 25-year-old, Austin Walker, collided with the rear of the Chevrolet, propelling it into the eastbound lanes, where it was subsequently struck by a Ford F-350 driven by 59-year-old Jeffrey Burdette of Mt. Airy.
Charles Black III, Barbara Black, and Debbie Hill were pronounced dead at the scene of the collision. Gage Black and Phillip Ceresa were airlifted to a trauma center in Baltimore. Gage Black later died from his injuries at the hospital.
The collision is still under investigation, but initial reports from law enforcement suggest that impaired driving was not a contributing factor.
A GoFundMe campaign was launched to assist with the medical expenses and funeral costs for the victims.
The loss of the Black family members and Hill in such a sudden manner has prompted an outpouring of support from across Maryland, with neighbors and friends providing support in various forms, including the online funding campaign.
The ongoing investigation by the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office aims to provide answers to the many questions surrounding the crash and to bring closure to all those affected by the loss of these community members.
