After accident, man dies on Beltway

A Laurel man who had been involved in a minor crash was killed early Sunday after he tried to cross the Capital Beltway to exchange information with the other driver and was hit by a van, authorities said.

The incident occurred just before 3 a.m. on northbound I-495 near Ritchie Marlboro Road, authorities said. That’s where Carlton Smith Jr., 29, had pulled over to the shoulder after he was involved in a minor collision with another vehicle, Maryland State police said. The other driver had pulled to the opposite shoulder, police said.

As Smith tried to cross the road to reach the other driver, he was hit by a van, police said. He was transported to a nearby hospital, where he died. No one else was hurt.

— Matt Zapotosky