Police ID driver killed in Rockville Pike Metrobus wreck

<br/></div> <p>The crash shut down a section of the busy roadway for more than seven hours and left nine other people with injuries.</p> <p>The accident occurred when Nkonou Ayaovi Edorh drove his Toyota pickup across the median of the pike from the southbound lanes into the northbound lanes around 4:15 p.m., police said. They are still investigating why he crossed into oncoming traffic.</p> <p>A J9 Metrobus headed north tried to swerve out of the way, according to Metro. But the vehicles collided.</p> <p>The Metrobus then ran off the roadway and hit a tree.</p> <p><a href=”http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/blogs/capital-land/2011/12/report-1-dead-5-car-metrobus-crash-rockville-pike/2041976″ target=”_blank”>Originally authorities had said five vehicles were involved</a> but said later that only those two vehicles actually collided.</p> <p>Edorh died at the scene.</p> <p>Nine people on the bus were injured, said Montgomery County Fire &amp; Rescue Capt. Oscar Garcia, including the bus driver who had to be extricated from the crushed front of the bus.</p> <p>The bus operator, Lennitta Bryant, 41, remained hospitalized in stable condition Thursday, according to Metro spokesman Dan Stessel. The 13-year agency veteran was slated for hand surgery. She also injured one leg and both feet, Stessel said.</p> <p>The crash, which occurred near Cedar Lane and Elmhurst Drive, just south of the Beltway and just north of the National Institutes of Health and the National Naval Medical Center, led to massive tie ups. All lanes of the major thoroughfare were closed until 11:48 p.m., police said.</p>