CUMBERLAND — No charges have been filed in a Jan. 6 crash that seriously injured a Cumberland man, according to Maryland State Police.
Theodore Rankin, a 22-year-old Queen City Taxi driver, was driving east on Interstate 68 at about 12:30 a.m. when a vehicle traveling the wrong way struck the taxi.
The second vehicle, a Kia Soul, operated by Amber Holthaus, age unknown, was traveling the wrong way when she struck Rankin’s vehicle, police said.
The crash occurred near the 41 mile-marker between LaVale and Cumberland, according to a January release issued by police. Alcohol is believed to have been a factor in the crash.
Police said the east lanes of the interstate were closed for several hours for investigation.
The Times-News requested a copy of the crash report and toxicology reports obtained at the time of the wreck through a Freedom of Information Act request.
Maryland State Police confirmed the drivers’ information, adding “this is an ongoing investigation, and the report is not releasable at this time.”
Rankin was initially transported to UPMC Western Maryland with life-threatening injuries and later transferred to the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore, according to his mother, Jessica Rankin.
Holthaus was transported to the hospital after the crash, according to police.
Jessica Rankin said after discharge from the hospital, her son was transferred to a rehabilitation center in Baltimore. At that time, they planned to travel back and forth to Baltimore three days a week for therapies.
“There are no words to fully describe how amazing and courageous he is,” Jessica Rankin said.
She said her son was doing better but recently suffered his first setback.
“He has fought so hard to come back to where he is and now, he has a setback,” Rankin said.
Rankin did not elaborate on his current condition.
“My Teddy has lost so much,” Jessica Rankin said.