A father of five sons and grandfather of 13 was killed Wednesday night in a hit-and-run on the Baltimore Washington Parkway at the Capital Beltway, police said.
Mark Johnson Sr., 52, of Baltimore, was struck about 11:30 p.m., police said. One or more striking cars did not stay at the scene.
“I don’t want my dad to get lost in the news as just a name, just an internet, another hit-and-run on BW Parkway,” said his son, Nick Johnson. “His name was Mark Johnson Sr. Wife, kids, grandkids who all want to see his killer brought to justice.”
Johnson was walking to find a gas station after his car ran out of gas on the way to an emergency plumbing job, his family said. He had his own plumbing business.
“Unfortunately, we’re here now because some coward hit my father and decided to leave him on the side of the road,” his son said.
His wife, Pamela, said they were high school sweethearts.
“Hopefully … someone will have a heart and decide to make a phone call and say, you know, I think that was me,” she said.
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Southbound lanes were closed as police investigated but reopened about 6 a.m.
It's been a deadly week on this stretch of the BW Parkway. On Monday, 27-year-old Brittany Burks died after a suspect in a police chase rammed into her car on the BW Parkway near the Beltway ramp.
Anyone who witnessed anything in the area before the crash should call U.S. Park Police at 202-610-8737 or 202-610-7500 or email USPP_tipline@nps.gov.
