Venkata Asha Khanna Appana dies in fatal Howard County, Maryland wrong-way crash

Venkata Asha Khanna Appana dies in fatal Howard County, Maryland wrong-way crash

Fatal Howard County, Maryland car crash death of Venkata Asha Khanna Appana – Obituary

Venkata Asha Khanna Appana, 48, of Marvin, North Carolina, was killed in a devastating wrong-way crash that occurred overnight on Interstate 95 in Laurel, according to Maryland State Police.

Troopers said the collision happened near Route 216 when a Toyota Sequoia traveling in the wrong direction struck a Chrysler Pacifica head-on. Appana was driving the Chrysler at the time of the crash.

Authorities later confirmed that the front-seat passenger in the Chrysler, 49-year-old Krishna Kishore Koti Kalapudi, also from Marvin, North Carolina, died as a result of the impact. Two additional passengers riding in the back seat were seriously injured and taken to the hospital, including a 16-year-old who required emergency transport by helicopter.

Investigators identified the Toyota driver as 34-year-old Michael Coupet of Baltimore City. Charging documents state Coupet submitted to a breath test and recorded a blood alcohol concentration of 0.21 percent, more than twice Maryland’s legal limit. Police said Coupet was not injured and remained at the scene following the crash.

Coupet has been charged with multiple counts of vehicular manslaughter and homicide by motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. He is currently being held without bail.

The crash forced the closure of all southbound lanes of I-95 for nearly three hours while investigators processed the scene. Maryland State Police said the investigation is ongoing in coordination with the Howard County State’s Attorney’s Office.