Lanham, Maryland – Ayuk Etta, a 40-year-old resident of Lanham, has been identified as the man who tragically lost his life in a two-vehicle crash on the Outer Loop of Interstate 495 near Route 50 in Prince George’s County. The fatal accident occurred on Sunday evening, September 15, 2024, around 8:50 p.m.
According to Maryland State Police, Etta was outside his vehicle at the time of the crash when a 2016 Honda Pilot, traveling northbound on I-495, lost control and struck the rear of a stationary 2018 Mercedes sedan, which had been stopped on the left shoulder. Etta was pronounced dead at the scene by Prince George’s County Fire/EMS personnel.
The crash also left four others hospitalized. Two passengers in the Mercedes, Miranda Nembo, 39, and Mayah Nembo, 24, were transported to the University of Maryland Capital Region Medical Center for treatment but have since been released. The exact nature of their relationship to Etta remains unclear.
The Honda Pilot was occupied by five male friends from Prince George’s County. The driver, 19-year-old Biruk Grimes, and two passengers, aged 18 and 19, declined medical attention. However, two other occupants, Olauwadamilola Fatokun, 18, and a 17-year-old, were taken to Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center for further treatment.
The investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing as authorities continue to gather details surrounding the tragic incident.