Ashley Salazar, Jeremy De La Torre Obituary, Death – Two people lost their lives in a head-on collision caused by a wrong-way driver on Interstate 270 early Saturday morning, according to authorities. The tragic crash occurred shortly before 3 a.m. when 25-year-old Ashley Salazar was reportedly driving southbound in the northbound lanes of I-270 for reasons that remain unclear. Her vehicle, a Chevrolet Cruze, collided head-on with a Honda Accord driven by 33-year-old Jeremy De La Torre.
Both Salazar, a resident of Clarksburg, and De La Torre, who lived in Frederick, were pronounced dead at the scene by emergency responders. No additional passengers were reported in either vehicle.
The Montgomery County Police Department confirmed that the collision took place in the early hours of Saturday, July 5, and that it involved just the two vehicles. Investigators are still working to determine how and why Salazar entered the northbound lanes traveling in the wrong direction. It is not yet known whether factors such as alcohol, fatigue, or distraction may have played a role.
Following the crash, all northbound lanes of I-270 were shut down for several hours to allow for accident reconstruction and cleanup. The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration assisted with the closure and detour efforts. The lanes were fully reopened later Saturday morning after the investigation at the scene concluded.
The deadly crash has shocked the local communities of Clarksburg and Frederick, as family and friends of the victims mourn the unexpected loss of two lives. Tributes have begun circulating on social media, with loved ones remembering Salazar and De La Torre as kind and hardworking individuals.
The Montgomery County Police Department’s Collision Reconstruction Unit continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash. They are reviewing any available surveillance footage from nearby traffic cameras and are also expected to conduct toxicology reports to determine if impairment was a factor.
Wrong-way driving incidents are rare but often deadly due to the high impact of head-on collisions, particularly on highways where speeds are typically higher. Authorities are urging drivers to remain alert and cautious, especially during late-night or early-morning hours when visibility may be limited and the risk of impaired or drowsy driving increases.
No further details about funeral arrangements or public statements from the families have been released as of yet.
Police are asking anyone who may have witnessed the crash or seen a vehicle traveling the wrong direction on I-270 early Saturday to contact the Montgomery County Police Department. Their input could help investigators better understand the sequence of events that led to this devastating collision.
As the investigation continues, officials emphasize the importance of road safety and awareness to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
