These drivers were saved from a nasty head-on collision because they were paying attention.
Carroll County driver and Redditor /u/Kevlar51 shared eye-opening dashcam footage from earlier in yesterday (Jan 15, 2026) showing the shocking moment a zoned-out driver casually drove through this busy intersection against a red light, threading the needle between two turning vehicles.
Check out the dashcam footage below with the original Reddit thread linked here.
The incident happened at the intersection of Sykesville and Liberty (Exact location on Google Maps linked here.)
As the dashcam shows, OP is, at first, on Liberty Rd. pointed Eastbound.
Traffic going straight and turning have the green, giving them the right of way to go, which they begin to do.
Slightly before the halfway point, you’ll notice a driver in a red Toyota Corolla going the opposite way, showing no signs of slowing.
A driver in a black Chrysler Pacifica in front of OP in the leftmost turn lane keeps going, whereas another turner in the rightmost turn lane, also in front of OP, slows in anticipation of the Corolla coming towards them.
By chance, the Corolla driver “threads the needle” between both turners, avoiding what would’ve been one catastrophic head-on collision.
Everyone makes it out of the situation without incident, at least physically.
“This was terrifying to watch in person. The driver’s face was focused straight ahead the entire time, completely oblivious to traffic around and directly in front of him,” OP commented.
“The car in front of you had incredible awareness! That was awesome to watch,” /u/DillysRevenge commented.
“Same with the car next to me, too. Harder to see in the video,” OP replied.
In Eldersburg, Maryland (and statewide), if a police officer tickets you for running a red light it’s typically treated as a moving violation with about a $140 fine and 2 points on your Maryland driving record (more if an accident is involved). Accruing these points can raise insurance rates and contribute toward license suspension. (www.drivinglaws.org)
Note: Automated red-light camera fines in many Maryland jurisdictions are usually lower (around $75) and don’t add points to your driving record because they’re civil citations mailed to the vehicle owner. (atms.montgomerycountymd.gov)
