The Prince George’s County Police Department is reaching out to the community as we search for the driver of a stolen car who fled an attempted traffic stop and caused a fatal collision this weekend. The victim is 43-year-old Maria Carrion of Hyattsville. She was killed in the crash.
On the evening of October 5th, there was a reported attempted armed carjacking / citizen robbery by a suspect wearing a bandana in the area of East Forest Road at approximately 9:13 pm. An alert Prince George’s County Police patrol officer observed a car being driven by a man wearing a bandana. The officer got behind the vehicle, radioed dispatch and was advised the car had been reported stolen. At approximately 9:50 pm, the officer attempted to stop the car on Columbia Avenue near Martin Luther King Junior Highway. The driver initially pulled over for the traffic stop. As the officer exited her cruiser and began walking toward the stopped car, the driver sped off at a high rate of speed onto Martin Luther King Junior Highway.
Approximately 20 seconds later, the driver of the stolen vehicle ran a red light and crashed into the car being driven by Carrion at the intersection of MLK Jr Highway at Southland Drive. The victim was rushed to a local hospital but died of her injuries 45 minutes later.
It’s been determined the officer who had attempted the earlier traffic stop did not pursue the fleeing vehicle. Once she was back in her cruiser, she too made a right onto MLK Junior Highway in an attempt to locate the vehicle, saw smoke up ahead and came upon the crash site.
After the collision, the driver and passenger jumped out of the stolen car and ran from the scene. The female passenger in the fleeing car was taken into custody two blocks away.
Detectives are working to identify the driver. This person may be injured from the crash. If anyone can assist investigators to identify or locate the driver, they are asked to call 911 or 301-731-4422. Callers wishing to remain anonymous may call Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477); online at www.pgcrimesolvers.com or the “P3 Tips” mobile app (search “P3 Tips” in the Apple Store or Google Play to download the app to your mobile device).
On the evening of October 5th, there was a reported attempted armed carjacking / citizen robbery by a suspect wearing a bandana in the area of East Forest Road at approximately 9:13 pm. An alert Prince George’s County Police patrol officer observed a car being driven by a man wearing a bandana. The officer got behind the vehicle, radioed dispatch and was advised the car had been reported stolen. At approximately 9:50 pm, the officer attempted to stop the car on Columbia Avenue near Martin Luther King Junior Highway. The driver initially pulled over for the traffic stop. As the officer exited her cruiser and began walking toward the stopped car, the driver sped off at a high rate of speed onto Martin Luther King Junior Highway.
Approximately 20 seconds later, the driver of the stolen vehicle ran a red light and crashed into the car being driven by Carrion at the intersection of MLK Jr Highway at Southland Drive. The victim was rushed to a local hospital but died of her injuries 45 minutes later.
It’s been determined the officer who had attempted the earlier traffic stop did not pursue the fleeing vehicle. Once she was back in her cruiser, she too made a right onto MLK Junior Highway in an attempt to locate the vehicle, saw smoke up ahead and came upon the crash site.
After the collision, the driver and passenger jumped out of the stolen car and ran from the scene. The female passenger in the fleeing car was taken into custody two blocks away.
Detectives are working to identify the driver. This person may be injured from the crash. If anyone can assist investigators to identify or locate the driver, they are asked to call 911 or 301-731-4422. Callers wishing to remain anonymous may call Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477); online at www.pgcrimesolvers.com or the “P3 Tips” mobile app (search “P3 Tips” in the Apple Store or Google Play to download the app to your mobile device).