Md. Shoplifting Suspect Dies in Crash During Police Chase

The Washington County Sheriff's Department says a suspected shoplifter is dead and another man is recovering after a head-on crash during a police chase on Interstate 81 near Hagerstown.

Sheriff Douglas Mullendore told the Herald-Mail that the crash Thursday claimed the life of 58-year-old David Adams of Hagerstown.

Mullendore says Adams was suspected of stealing clothing from a Sears store at Valley Mall and left the shopping center driving a vehicle that had been reported stolen. Authorities gave chase, with Adams ultimately going the wrong way up a highway access ramp.

Mullendore says Adams' hit a Volkswagen SUV driven by Richard McGrath, 61, of Smithsburg.

Adams had been released from jail in November after serving 10 months for vehicle theft.