Ridgely Man Dies in Head-On Caroline County Crash, Investigation Ongoing

A 30-year-old Ridgely man was killed yesterday when his vehicle collided with a box truck that had crossed into oncoming traffic on Route 480 in Caroline County. Maryland State Police are investigating whether impairment played a role in the deadly crash.

Maryland State Police crash investigators are working to determine what caused a deadly collision in Caroline County that took the life of a Ridgely resident yesterday afternoon.

Joseph Dsouza, 30, of Ridgely, died at the scene of the crash. Emergency medical personnel declared him deceased after his 2017 Kia Sorento collided with an Isuzu box truck on Maryland Route 480.

A 50-year-old passenger from Kuwait, Hillary Coelho, was riding in Dsouza’s vehicle at the time of impact. State police aviation transported Coelho to a trauma center where he remains hospitalized.

The box truck operator, James Sherry, 50, of Greensboro, was also taken to a hospital for treatment following the crash.

Emergency responders were called to Route 480 north of Eveland Road just before 2:00 p.m. yesterday, where they discovered both vehicles had left the roadway after the collision.

According to initial findings from crash investigators, the box truck was heading north when it veered across the centerline into the southbound lanes. Police believe Dsouza tried to prevent a direct head-on collision by steering his Kia onto the shoulder of the southbound side, but the vehicles still collided there.

Easton Barrack troopers and Caroline County emergency medical teams responded to the scene. Maryland Department of Transportation personnel helped manage road closures and traffic diversions while the highway remained shut down. Caroline County’s State’s Attorney’s Office has been informed of the incident.

Investigators have not yet established the definitive cause of the crash, though they suspect impairment may have contributed to the collision. Criminal charges could be filed depending on what the investigation reveals.

Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division officers also examined the truck following the crash. The Maryland State Police Crash Team is leading the ongoing investigation.