Harwood, Maryland — Regina Ann Hicks, 54, of Prince Frederick, died Tuesday morning after a three‑vehicle crash on Solomons Island Road. The early commute turned tragic when her Nissan Xterra was hit from behind and pushed into oncoming traffic. She was rushed to a hospital but could not be saved. Two other drivers walked away with minor injuries.
It was about 7:20 a.m. on April 7, 2026, when the first impact occurred just south of Polling House Road. A 19‑year‑old man driving a 2021 Dodge Challenger was heading northbound when he collided with Hicks’ older SUV from behind. The force of that hit shoved her into the path of a southbound 2019 Toyota 4Runner.
Police say Hicks’ vehicle was struck head‑on by the Toyota. Emergency crews responded quickly and transported all three drivers to area hospitals. Hicks died at the hospital. The other two drivers, including the teenage man and a 30‑year‑old woman from Chesapeake Beach, were treated for minor injuries and released.
Neighbors along Solomons Island Road said they heard sirens and saw a flurry of activity as first responders worked the scene. Morning drivers were stopped for nearly an hour while officers processed the road and cleared the wreckage. The area, usually bustling with commuter traffic, was eerily still in the moments after the crash.
The Anne Arundel County Police Department’s Crash Reconstruction Team is now working to determine what led up to the collision. Investigators are reviewing speed, road conditions and whether any driver actions contributed to the chain reaction that cost one life.
Hicks was remembered by friends and family as a warm presence in the community. She was out running errands early that day, a routine start to a Tuesday that ended in heartbreak. Loved ones are planning services and asking for privacy during this difficult time.
