In the quiet stretch of Littlestown Pike in Carroll County, Maryland, a routine afternoon drive turned deadly when a dump truck veered into oncoming traffic, claiming the life of 73-year-old Sandra Stigler from Littlestown, Pennsylvania. It was just after 1:30 p.m. on a day that started like any other, but ended in tragedy for Stigler, who was behind the wheel of her maroon 2017 Dodge Ram pickup.
Emergency responders rushed to the scene in the 3000 block of Littlestown Pike, between Old Hanover and Saw Mill roads, where the maroon Ram had been heading southbound. Stigler was pronounced dead at the scene by medical personnel, a somber reminder of how quickly life can change on these rural roads. Folks around here know Littlestown Pike as a busy route, but one that doesn’t often see such heartbreak.
The other vehicle involved was a 1989 International dump truck, driven by 52-year-old Matthew Lee Dell of Manchester, Maryland. Thankfully, Dell walked away without a scratch, but the impact left a heavy toll. Preliminary reports suggest the dump truck was northbound when, for reasons still under investigation, it crossed the double yellow center line and collided head-on with Stigler’s Ram. It’s the kind of mystery that keeps investigators up at night—what exactly caused that fateful drift?
Troopers from the Maryland State Police Westminster Barrack were among the first on site, their lights flashing against the afternoon sun as they secured the area. They weren’t alone; deputies from the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office pitched in to help manage the chaos, turning what could have been a simple fender-bender response into a full-scale operation. The air must have been thick with concern as they worked to piece together the moments leading up to the crash.
Road safety took a hit too, with the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration stepping in to close lanes and reroute traffic. Drivers navigating the detour probably grumbled about the delay, but it was all in the name of preserving the scene for a thorough probe. By around 5:20 p.m., the lanes finally reopened, allowing life on Littlestown Pike to creep back to normal—though for Stigler’s loved ones, normal will never be the same.
Leading the charge is the Maryland State Police Crash Team, digging deep into every angle of this unfortunate event. They’re not stopping there; specialists from the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division are giving the old dump truck a meticulous post-crash inspection, checking everything from brakes to load to see if mechanical issues played a role. These guys know their stuff, and their work could uncover clues that prevent future losses.
As the sun set on that stretch of road, the weight of the day lingered. Stigler, a Pennsylvania resident just crossing into Maryland territory, leaves behind a story that’s all too common yet painfully unique—a life interrupted in an instant. The investigation rolls on, with authorities vowing to get answers, but for now, it’s a stark call to cherish the drives we take for granted. Carroll County mourns quietly, hoping for closure in the days ahead.
