3 Locals Die in Maryland Car Crash

Three Fairfax roommates died in a single-car crash on Interstate 83 in Maryland, according to the Maryland State Police. The crash scene was discovered Tuesday afternoon, but the crash likely occurred early Sunday.

The victims were identified as Vignesh Ashokan, 23; Sharath Sudershanam, 24; and Moka Mallikarjun, 25. All three were pronounced dead at the scene. 

Their car was discovered Tuesday afternoon in a wooded area along the ramp from southbound I-83 to the outer loop of Interstate 695. A driver had spotted evidence of a vehicle crash and contacted authorities. 

Responding troopers found multiple pieces of the car and the bodies of the three men, according to a Maryland State Police release.

The preliminary investigation indicates the 2012 Volvo S60, driven by Mallikarjun, was heading onto the ramp when it left the roadway and struck a tree. 

Investigators learned the men were last seen at about 1:30 a.m. on Sunday, when they left a friends house in Cockeysville. Authorities believe the crash occurred soon after they left Sunday. 

The cause of the crash remains under investigation. Due to the significant damage to the vehicle that occurred on impact, Maryland State Police investigators believe speed was a factor in the crash. 

The bodies of the three men were transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore. Autopsies were expected to be conducted Wednesday.