John Welin, Karen Berneck and Thomas Stevao Remembered After Fatal Maryland I-68 Crash
Three people have been identified following a devastating head-on collision on Interstate 68 in western Maryland that claimed three lives and left two others injured.
The victims were identified as John Welin, 79, of Roscoe, Illinois; Karen Berneck, 81, also of Roscoe; and Thomas Stevao, 25, of Centreville, Virginia. Maryland State Police confirmed their identities following the fatal crash, which occurred on Sunday, August 30, 2026.
The collision happened on eastbound I-68 near Maryland Route 36. According to the preliminary investigation, a Subaru Forester was traveling westbound when, for reasons that remain unknown, it crossed the grass median and entered the eastbound lanes. The Subaru then collided head-on with a Volkswagen Tiguan.
John Welin and Karen Berneck
Welin was driving the Subaru, while Berneck was traveling as a passenger. Both were pronounced dead at the scene after the collision.
The pair, who were both from Roscoe, Illinois, are now being remembered by those who knew them as their families and loved ones face the devastating aftermath of the crash.
The circumstances that caused the Subaru to cross the median have not yet been established. Maryland State Police said the reason remains unknown as investigators continue examining the collision.
Thomas Stevao
Thomas Stevao, 25, of Centreville, Virginia, was a passenger in the Volkswagen Tiguan. He also died at the scene.
His death adds another family to the list of those grieving following the western Maryland crash. Online reports published after authorities released the victims’ identities have described the three victims as being mourned by their respective communities, although detailed biographical information about each person remains limited in verified public sources.
Other People Injured in I-68 Crash
The Volkswagen’s driver, 25-year-old Patrick Kaczmarek of Clifton, Virginia, survived the collision but suffered injuries serious enough to require transportation by Maryland State Police Aviation Command to a local trauma center.
Another passenger, 25-year-old Jacqueline Durham of Clifton, was transported by ambulance to a local hospital for treatment. Their subsequent conditions were not provided in the initial police release.
The crash therefore resulted in three fatalities while leaving two other people requiring medical treatment.
Investigation Continues
The Maryland State Police Crash Team is leading the investigation into the collision.
Investigators are working to determine why the Subaru crossed the median and entered the opposite lanes of I-68. At this point, police have not publicly attributed the crash to a specific cause.
The fatal collision was one of four deadly crashes investigated by Maryland State Police over the weekend. Those separate crashes collectively left seven people dead across the state.
Remembering the Three Victims
The deaths of John Welin, Karen Berneck and Thomas Stevao have left their families and communities facing an immense loss. While official information about their personal lives remains limited, their identities have now been formally released as the investigation continues.
For the families involved, the focus will remain on remembering their loved ones while authorities work to establish what led to the devastating collision.
The fatal I-68 crash remains under active investigation by Maryland State Police. As investigators continue examining the circumstances surrounding the head-on collision, the families of John Welin, Karen Berneck and Thomas Stevao are left to mourn three lives lost in a sudden and tragic roadway collision.