Md. Highway worker killed

UPDATED: 11:45 a.m.: Police are searching for a driver who struck and killed a highway worker in Annapolis before dawn Thursday.

The victim, 52-year-old Ghassen Sabra, of Goldsboro, N.C., was hit around 1 a.m. on eastbound Route 50 as he worked to conduct a traffic survey under contract with the Maryland State Highway Administration.

Sabra, who was wearing reflective clothing, was either placing or retrieving equipment in the left lane before the accident, police said.

Investigators believe Sabra was hit twice, first by an unknown vehicle, which sent him into an adjacent lane, and then by a tractor-trailer. The tractor-trailer driver was not charged.

Ambulance personnel, who happened almost immediately upon the accident, tried to administer care but the victim was dead, police said.

Police are asking for information from any motorists who were in the area of eastbound Route 50 and Bay Dale Drive between 12:30 a.m. and 1:30 a.m.

Maryland State Police should be contacted at 410-761-5130. Calls may be kept confidential.

-- Mike McPhate
Original post: Police say an ambulance crew returning to its base found 52-year-old Ghassen Sabra, of Goldsboro, N.C., on eastbound Route 50 around 1 a.m. Thursday. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Sabra worked for Sabra, Wang & Associates of Halethorpe, a company under contract with the State Highway Administration to conduct traffic surveys.

Investigators believe Sabra was walking in the left lane putting out or retrieving traffic counting equipment when he was hit. Police say he was thrown into the next lane, where he was hit by a tractor-trailer.

Police do not have a description of the vehicle that initially hit Sabra.

-- Associated Press