Dr. Alvarado Dies From Crash Injuries

BALTIMORE -- Dr. José "Joe" Alvarado, a Salisbury pediatrician who was critically injured in a car crash Wednesday near Pittsville, died Saturday night at the Shock-Trauma Center at University of Maryland Hospital, said Cindy Rivers, a hospital spokeswoman.

Alvarado, 50, who had practiced in Salisbury for nearly 30 years, had been listed in critical condition since being flown to the Baltimore trauma center Wednesday evening. He died at about 9:15 p.m. Saturday.

Alvarado was driving east on Route 50 near Sixty Foot Road in the Pittsville area at about 2:25 p.m. Wednesday when his Mercedes convertible veered off the road and slammed into a large trailer attached to a truck, which was broken down on the road's shoulder.

The impact of the crash overturned the 21-foot trailer and dislodged two of its axles. Alvarado's car was mangled. Its hood was ripped away and the engine block was exposed.

A graduate of the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, Alvarado was chief of pediatrics at Peninsula Regional Medical Center and operator of a well-established practice on Pemberton Drive. He completed his residency at University Pediatric Hospital in Puerto Rico.

Alvarado had been a doctor in the Salisbury medical community since 1988. He opened an office on Pemberton Drive in 2000, and later built a larger office nearby.

Peninsula Regional President Peggy Naleppa called Alvarado a "well-loved, admired and respected member" of the medical staff and said the PRMC family was saddened by his tragic loss.

"Dr. Alvarado was a dedicated physician leader, an outstanding pediatrician and a well loved, admired and respected member of our medical staff," Naleppa said in a statement.

Alvarado joined PRMC in 1988 and had served as chief of pediatrics since 2006. "It was a role in which he excelled," Naleppa said, "and his knowledge and vision was invaluable in the clinical advancement and growth of our Pediatric Unit during his tenure as its chief.''

Alvarado's wife, Margarita, also worked in the Pemberton Road practice. Alvarado was the father of four sons, Jose, Ricky, David and Juan. One son who is attending medical school in Tennessee.

A Facebook page created to send Internet messages of support to the family had 2,941 members by Saturday evening. As news of his death spread, the page was filling with condolense messages.

A foundation in Alvarado’s name has been established through the United Way of the Lower Eastern Shore..

A special Thank You goes out to all my blogging friends for all your prayers during this tough time for the Alvarado Family. Even though I am financially challenged at this time I have decided to go to the funeral in Salisbury on Wednesday.