Wanda K. Hartley, Dunkirk, Maryland Crash, Death Obituary

The community of Dunkirk, Maryland is mourning a heartbreaking loss following a tragic two-vehicle collision that claimed the life of 68-year-old Wanda K. Hartley. The devastating crash occurred on the evening of April 21, 2026, along Solomons Island Road near Lothian, Maryland, leaving family, friends, and neighbors grappling with grief.

According to authorities, the collision happened around 7:35 p.m. near Ducks Lane and involved a Honda Accord and a Ford F-350 towing a dump trailer. Investigators believe both vehicles were traveling southbound, with the Ford following behind the Honda. For reasons still under investigation, the Honda slowed suddenly, and the Ford struck it from behind, impacting both the rear and driver’s side.

The force of the crash sent both vehicles off the roadway and into a nearby wooded area. The Honda continued forward before colliding head-on with a tree, sustaining catastrophic damage. Inside that vehicle was Wanda K. Hartley, who suffered severe injuries in the impact. Emergency responders arrived quickly and transported her to a nearby hospital, but despite their efforts, she did not survive.

The driver of the Ford, a 39-year-old man from Chesapeake Beach, remained at the scene. He was not injured and declined medical treatment.

Those who knew Wanda remember her as a kind and deeply valued member of the community—someone whose presence brought warmth and connection to those around her. Her sudden and tragic passing has left an immeasurable void in the lives of her loved ones, who are now facing the painful reality of life without her.

Authorities with the Anne Arundel County Police Crash Reconstruction Team continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the collision, working to determine what led to the events of that evening.

As the community reflects on this loss, many are holding Wanda’s family close in their thoughts, honoring her memory and the life she lived with compassion and care.