Original Report: Driver Dies After Crashing into Building in Damascus; Crash Causes 2 Alarm Fire

Per MCPD:

For Immediate Release: Monday, December 20, 2021

Gaithersburg, MD – Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) are investigating the December 19 single-vehicle fatal collision that occurred in Damascus.

At approximately 11 p.m., a 5^th District officer was on patrol when he observed a building fire in the 9900 block of Main Street. Upon further investigation the officer determined that a vehicle had left the roadway and struck the building.

Montgomery County Fire Rescue personnel responded and pronounced the operator of the vehicle deceased at the scene.

The investigation has revealed that a vehicle was traveling north on Ridge Road, approaching the Y intersection of Lewis Drive and Main Street. The operator left the roadway, striking a dumpster and then the building.

The decedent is unidentified at this time.

The name of the deceased will be released following identification and proper notification of the family.

This is an active and ongoing investigation.

The Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) continues to investigate this collision. Anyone with information regarding this collision is asked to contact CRU detectives at 240-773-6620.

The driver of the car that crashed into a building that is home to several commercial businesses (commercial limo company, spiritual healer, etc.) in Damascus has died, according to Fox 5.

The crash occurred at approximately 11pm last night on Main Street in Damascus, sparking a 2-alarm fire that required about 80 firefighters last night.

Temperatures were at approximately 28° with the Real Feel temperature at 21°, which made for icy roads in the area, according to MCFRS PIO Pete Piringer.

Investigators are still working to determine exactly what led up to the crash.

(~11p 12/19) 9800blk Main St., Damascus,, 2nd alarm commercial building fire, first arriving @mcfrs units encountered heavy fire pic.twitter.com/aLcAeQyZnN

— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) December 20, 2021

Back in October, Los Angeles Rams head coach and former Washington offensive coordinator, Sean McVay announced that Damascus alumnus Jake Funk was lost for the season with a torn hamstring. Yesterday, Funk was designated to return from injured reserve.

He will provide depth at running back behind Sony Michel and Darrell Henderson Jr., but could also take over kick return duties. When he went down with the injury, it was believed that he would miss the rest of the season, but he’ll be available on Tuesday, McVay said.

Funk has primarily played special teams for the Rams  this season– he has played in 66% of special team snaps on the year. He has also carried the ball 1 time for 6 yards, in a win against the defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Jake Funk holds the Maryland state record for career touchdowns from when he was a student at Damascus High School. He went on to play at the University of Maryland before getting drafted by the Rams with the 5th pick of the 7th round earlier this year.

New York J&P Pizza in Damascus (2607 Ridge Road) has officially reopened after a 10-month remodeling closure.

The restaurant announced it would close for remodeling back on February 10th and started the process on February 15th.

On June 22nd, an update was provided via social media:

“Thank you all so much for all your patience! Unfortunately, this remodel has been delayed numerous times and it’s out of our hands. We have every permit except the plumbing one, which we are still waiting on from Montgomery Co. We are hoping and planning for the first week of August!!”

On Sunday, J&P announced that it would open on Monday and the restaurant is now officially open.

New York J&P Pizza was the first restaurant in Damascus to receive a liquor license and started serving alcohol in February of 2013, a few months after an 80-year ban on alcohol sales in the town.

Featured photo courtesy of New York J&P Pizza

Music Cafe, a restaurant that offers quality crafted sandwiches, gourmet coffee, local craft beer, and live music, will close after 15 years in Damascus.

The cafe posted the following message on its Facebook page:

Well Damascus….It’s been over 15 wonderful years of “Letting the good times Roll”.
Our lease is up, and we’ve decided not to renew, as we do not agree with the new terms, as well as a few other things.

Pre-Covid we were gung-ho. Re-doing the lobby, stage area, artwork, menus, patio, etc.
After almost two years of dealing with repercussions from the Pandemic such as the increase in food cost, as well as labor, and just finding good reliable employees who want to work, we’ve decided to close our doors.

Yes, this has been a very difficult decision for us. The Music Café has been a big part of our lives for many years. We’ve gone through many ups, downs, and crossroads so-to-speak. We’ve learned what to do, and “of course” what not to do. We’ve accumulated so many wonderful memories that will never be erased.
We’ve made so many close friends, and have met so many amazing beautiful people along the way.
We’ve seen many come to the Café for marriage proposals, first dates, funerals, birthdays, showers, etc. We’ve heard much laughter, seen many smiles, and have joined in on shedding tears with many as well. We literally watched our children grow up there. It was a place where they, and many others called home.

Long story short, the Café touched many lives. Especially the lives of myself and my loving wife. Therefore we are grateful, and feel so very blessed to have received the ongoing support, love and prayers that our community has given us over the years. We’d like to thank each and every one of you on this post, but there are literally too many of you. You all know who you are!

I am going to just slip in a very special thank you to my partner in crime..my “again” loving, beautiful and amazing wife Christine Anderson, my amazing children Jordan and Trevor. My one-of a-kind perfect parents who’ve been coming to the Café weekly (almost) and supporting live music and hunger for 15 years straight. Of course the rest of my entire family as well.

We’ll never forget the (oh-so-many) larger events we held. Led Zepplica at the Weinburg Center, Big Funky Blues Festival, County Western Bluegrass Festival, all concerts at Carroll Arts Center, our 10 year anniversary and all tribute concerts, as well as some very large fundraising events for various people in need. Thank you from the very bottom of our hearts for every single musician who has ever stepped foot on that stage, and for every patron who has entered our establishment. We are appreciative and grateful for your contribution.

Now, our very last of business will be Saturday, December 11th. We’ll probably stay open a bit late that evening under the circumstances.
So there’s not much time left people. Come and get your last fill of The Music Cafe.
You’ve all touched our hearts for a strong fifteen years.
Thank you sincerely 🙏

~Randy and Chris Anderson

A water main break in Clarksburg headed towards the Damascus area has created a sinkhole that has closed Ridge Road.

The 24” water main on Ridge Rd is Damascus’ primary domestic water source so low water pressure or outages may occur in the area. WSSC is on scene, according to Montgomery County Fire and Rescue.

Featured photo sent in by Kyle Sefcik.

Emergency utility work closes Ridge Road (MD-27) between Skylark Road and Little Seneca PKWY. This could be an extended closure. Expect significant delays. Seek alternate route. #MDTRAFFIC

— MC Emergency Mgmt (@ReadyMontgomery) November 9, 2021

Water Main Break in Damascus area – a 24” water main on Ridge Rd creating a sinkhole. Ridge Rd CLOSED/BLOCKED between Little Seneca Pkwy & Skylark Rd, both directions. NOTE: Damascus primary domestic water source, expect low pressure or outage in area. WSSC is on scene. pic.twitter.com/pLQSWvOJgc

— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) November 9, 2021

Damascus is getting its first tasting room, as 61 Vineyard prepares to open its doors for a soft opening event (closed to the public).

We spoke with owner Pam Giganti who told us that she and her husband Mark acquired the farm in 2017 and bottled their first vintage on July 1st of this year. They have been MoCo residents for nearly 30 years.

The tasting room will be located in an 80 year old milking barn that was on the property and 61 Vineyard will be MoCo’s fourth vineyard.

You can sign up for future soft opening and grand opening events on the vineyards website here.

More information below, courtesy of 61 Vineyard:

“For the last 20 years, we have lived among the rolling hills and peaceful farmlands of Upper Montgomery County, Maryland. Our appreciation for wine deepened as we toured local and international wineries. We wondered why there were so many wonderful wineries out there, but only a few in Montgomery County. After some thought (and a glass or two), we made the decision to educate ourselves on the art of winemaking. We attended Wine Camp (yes there is such a thing), then joined Maryland Grape Growers and Maryland Wineries Associations. But most importantly, we educated ourselves on Viticulture and Enology. In 2013-2014, we planted a 1-acre, test vineyard with Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. The project became a family affair, and during our harvest 2 years later, we had 4 generations working the land. Then the most amazing thing happened, we made wine! And the result had transcended our expectations.

The following year we acquired a local farm that would become 61 Vineyard. The name derives from the year we were both born, 1961. In the wine world, a good year is everything. And we agree that this was a phenomenal year!

Now the journey is about to begin as we prepare to open our relaxing winery where friends and family can enjoy spectacular mountain views and sensational wines.

Mark & Pam Giganti”

Los Angeles Rams head coach, and former Washington offensive coordinator, Sean McVay announced that Jake Funk has been lost for the season with a torn hamstring last night.

Funk has primarily played special teams for the Rams  this season– he has played in 66% of special team snaps on the year. He has also carried the ball 1 time for 6 yards, in a win against the defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Jake Funk holds the Maryland state record for career touchdowns from when he was a student at Damascus High School. He went on to play at the University of Maryland before getting drafted by the Rams with the 5th pick of the 7th round earlier this year.

Chief Spokesperson for Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services Pete Piringer reports that MCFRS have responded to a dump truck that was on fire in front of Damascus High School this morning on Ridge Road.

No injuries have been reported.

Feature photo courtesy of @dannynrozier on Instagram

IFO Damascus High School, 25900blk Ridge Rd, vehicle fire, dump truck, @mcfrs PE713, PE734, T734, M713, BC705 responded

— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) October 16, 2021

Accelerated deterioration of a culvert has forced the closure of Clarksburg Road between Bethesda Church Road and Prices Distillery Road.

While plans were already in place to replace this culvert in October, the Montgomery County Department of Transportation accelerated the project schedule after recent rainfall further damaged the culvert, which carries a branch of Bennett Creek underneath Clarksburg Road.

Local access to all residences and properties will be maintained during the closure, which will remain through December, according to the Montgomery County Department of Transportation’s Division of Transportation Engineering.

Featured Photo Courtesy of MCDOT

#ClarksburgRdCulvert Due to the recent storm events, severe damage has occurred to the culvert and roadway. Clarksburg Rd s now closed between Prices Distillery and Bethesda Church Rd. Closure will be thru December 2021 to replace the culvert. @MoCo_DTE

— MCDOT Division of Transportation Engineering (@MoCo_DTE) September 24, 2021

Montgomery County Police Investigate Armed Robbery in Clarksburg

The original press release from the Montgomery County Police Department listed Damascus as the location of the robbery. Below is the updated release listing Clarksburg as the location.

Per MCPD:

Montgomery County Police Investigate Armed Robbery in Clarksburg

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