Douglas Jared Dellinger, 20, a junior kinesiology major from Woodstock who aspired to be a physical therapist, died early yesterday morning after he was involved in a car accident in Ellicott City.
About 2:30 a.m., Jeff Wylie Carr, 22, of Ellicott City, was driving his Chevrolet Tahoe eastbound on MD Rt. 99 when he crossed into oncoming traffic and struck Dellinger, who was driving a Ford Explorer, Howard County Police said. Dellinger was pronounced dead at Howard County General Hospital.
Carr was taken to University of Maryland – Shock Trauma where he was listed in serious condition.
Dellinger’s family described him as outgoing, funny and always in a good mood.
“Everyone loved to be around Doug,” said his sister, Gretchen Dellinger. “It seemed like anyone he knew he became friends with.” Standing at 6 feet 6 inches tall, Dellinger was hard to miss on the campus and often mistaken as a Maryland basketball player, his sister said.
“He would always kill everyone in basketball but it was still fun,” said friend and junior dietetics major Kevan Melllendick. “He’ll stick out in my memory forever.”
He graduated from Mount Hebron High School in 2005 where he was voted “most spirited” by his senior class, and was an avid Maryland sports fan who enjoyed playing ultimate frisbee and basketball. During his sophomore year, Dellinger resided in South Campus Commons and worked in South Campus Dining Hall.
“He was definitely one of those people that people couldn’t say anything bad about,” said his friend, junior communications Nikkia Rice. “There wasn’t a mean bone in his body, and he was nice to everyone.”
Dellinger’s family said a funeral service will be held somewhere in Howard County, and details will be listed on Dellinger’s facebook page.
Dellinger is survived by his parents, Joseph and Judith Dellinger, and sister Gretchen, a 2006 Maryland graduate who served as ’05-’06 SEE president.
Contact reporter Cassie Bottge at bottgedbk@gmail.com.
