Tragic Loss of Two Women in Separate Hit-and-Run Incidents on Maryland’s Notorious ‘Highway of Death’
A devastating 24-hour period in Maryland’s Prince George’s County has seen two women lose their lives in separate hit-and-run incidents along Route 210, infamously known as the ‘highway of death.’ The tragic events have sparked widespread concern and calls for justice, as the community mourns the loss of Sandra Abarca Orellana and Loretta Canter-Andrews.
The first incident occurred on Thursday evening around 9 p.m. when 52-year-old Sandra Abarca Orellana of Temple Hills was struck while crossing Oxon Hill Road near the Tanger Outlets National Harbor Mall. She was attempting to reach a bus stop after a shopping trip when a vehicle hit her. Orellana was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Prince George’s County Police.
Roughly 24 hours later, on Friday at 10 p.m., 40-year-old Loretta Canter-Andrews of Accokeek was struck in the northbound lanes of Route 210 near Farmington Road. She also died at the scene. The two incidents occurred about 10 miles apart along Route 210, where pedestrian deaths are tragically common.
In 2024 alone, Prince George’s County has recorded 21 pedestrian fatalities, with 11 resulting from hit-and-runs, according to NBC Washington. Police are actively investigating both cases and are searching for vehicles in connection with each incident.
The tragic deaths underscore the urgent need for safety measures on Route 210, which continues to claim lives year after year. The community is calling for justice and action to prevent further pedestrian fatalities on this notorious stretch of road.
As the investigation continues, the families and loved ones of Sandra Abarca Orellana and Loretta Canter-Andrews mourn their loss and seek justice for their loved ones. The community comes together to support them in their time of grief and to demand change on the ‘highway of death.'”
