BALTIMORE – According to a press statement issued by the Baltimore Police Department, Police Officer Anthony Ward of the SWAT unit was killed in a car accident on Saturday, April 20, 2024.

Ward, 36, was a graduate of Graham High School.

“This is a terrible loss for Officer Ward’s family, his team members and the Baltimore Police Department on the whole,” said Police Commissioner Richard Worley. “My heart goes out to his loved ones. The Department extends its support and sympathies to them at this time.”

Ward is the son of Greg and Marcia Ward of the Westville area, who are both local philanthropists with Champaign County Ohio Habitat for Humanity.

According to a report in the Baltimore Banner, the Maryland Department of State Police is investigating the crash. It occurred on the inner loop of Interstate 695 at approximately 4:30 p.m. on Saturday. State police responded to a multi-vehicle crash between Greenspring Avenue and Interstate 83 Jones Falls Expressway. The investigation revealed that a work van crashed into a flatbed tow truck towing a farm tractor.

The driver of the work van was identified as Anthony Gregory Ward.

The collision caused Ward to be trapped on the driver’s side of the van, Maryland State Police said. He was pronounced dead on the scene by Baltimore County emergency medical services personnel.

The investigation into the crash is ongoing.

Funeral arrangements had not yet been announced as of Monday at noon.