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Garrett County Sheriff's Deputy Corey Douglas McElroy, 31, of Friendsville, was pronounced dead early on Wednesday morning at an area hospital after being involved in a crash while traveling in an unmarked departmental vehicle in Allegany County.
Troopers from the Maryland State Police Cumberland Barrack responded shortly before 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 20 to a stretch of the westbound lanes of I-68 near Route 36 in Frostburg to investigate a crash, officials said.
According to investigators, McElroy was driving a 2017 Ford Explorer west on the interstate when he struck a tractor-trailer for unknown reasons.
That crash sent McElroy cascading into the next lane, where his truck was struck head-on the driver’s side by a 2004 Ford F350.
McElroy was airlifted by a Maryland State Police helicopter to Ruby Memorial Hospital in West Virginia, where he was later pronounced dead early on Wednesday, Dec. 21.
Prior to joining the sheriff's office, McElroy - a father of two young children - served in the US Marine Corps. When he was killed, he was traveling home from the police academy to attend the graduation of a family member., according to Garrett County Sheriff Bryson Meyers.
“It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Garrett County Deputy Sheriff Corey McElroy from injuries sustained in an automobile crash on Interstate 68 late last night,” Meyers said. “We ask that you respect the privacy of (his) family at this most difficult time.”
The fatal crash led to a closure of I-68 for several hours until it was reopened shortly before 11 p.m. on Tuesday night following the investigation into the incident.
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