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4 Dead After Tragic Crash In Glen Burnie

GLEN BURNIE, Md. (WJZ) -- It will be a heartbreaking Thanksgiving for four families after a violent two-car crash in Glen Burnie kills their loved ones, including a child.

Derek Valcourt has more on the victims, the crash and what police say caused it.

Investigators say one of the drivers was speeding while trying to make an illegal pass. There were two people in each car; no one survived.

A solitary cross lies with scattered debris, the remnants of a tragic and gruesome car accident.

"Grieving. Grieving real bad," said Mark Ziegler.

In all four people were killed when a Mazda collided head-on with a Grand Am around 1:30 p.m. on an isolated straightaway along Marley Neck Road in Glen Burnie. Brittney Ziegler, 21, was in one car.

"She was a good girl," Mark Ziegler said.

Her passenger was her young goddaughter, Lilly Gross.

"I mean, 3 years old. That's heartbreaking, it really is," Ziegler said.

Mark Ziegler--Brittney's uncle--and the rest of her family are now devastated.

"Two lives that shouldn't have been lost. It was over stupidity flying down the road," he said.

Police say the fault lies with the driver of that Mazda, Joseph Oliver Jr., who was speeding as he drove northbound on Marley Neck Road. Police say he crossed the double yellow line and slammed head-on into Ziegler's car, which was traveling in the opposite direction.

"They had their whole life ahead of them and he was doing something foolish, real foolish," Ziegler said.

Ziegler says a similar accident on the same road 13 years ago killed his father. Now, with his niece's death, he's convinced it's just too dangerous there.

"I just told everyone in the family I think I'll stay off Marley Neck Boulevard," he said.

While police say excessive speed and driver error are to blame, they say it's still too early to say whether drugs or alcohol may have played a role in the crash.

Brittney Ziegler's family desperately needs help to cover her funeral expenses and say they would be thankful for any donations. To donate, click here.

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