(Forestville, MD) A Maryland State Trooper sustains injuries after being struck and pinned to a guardrail due to a chain reaction crash while he was investigating a motor vehicle crash this morning.
The trooper is identified as Trooper Warren Thompson, 42, assigned to patrol duties at the Forestville Barrack. He has been a member of the Maryland State Police for three years. Trooper Thompson was outside of his marked patrol vehicle when he was struck on the outer loop of Interstate 495 while investigating a multi-vehicle crash.
There were a total of five vehicles involved in the chain reaction crash. All the drivers were the sole occupants of their vehicles.
Theresa Mallory, 58, of Temple Hills, Maryland was driving a gray Toyota SUV and was parked on the shoulder. Mallory was transported to the University of Maryland Prince George’s Hospital Center by ambulance.
Vickie Mclean, 52, of Washington, D.C. was driving a red Toyota Corolla. There was no reported injury.
Mackenzie Paul of Sioux Falls, South Dakota was driving a gray Subaru SUV. There was no reported injury.
Jeremy Merritt, 48, of Hampton, Virginia was operating a white Nissan van. There was no reported injury. He is being charged with failure to control speed to avoid collision.
Carl Meade, 50, of Thornburg, Virginia was driving a white dump truck. There was no reported injury. He is being charged with failure to control speed to avoid collision.
The preliminary investigation indicates that shortly after 10:00 a.m. today, Trooper Thompson was dispatched to a report of a multi-vehicle crash on the outer loop of Interstate 495 at Pennsylvania Avenue. Trooper Thompson’s marked patrol vehicle was parked on the right shoulder with his emergency lights activated when the chain reaction occurred.
State Police investigators advised while Trooper Thompson was on scene investigating, two other crashes occurred within seconds prior to Trooper Thompson being struck. Merritt, Mclean and Paul were all traveling in lane four, adjacent to the right shoulder. They were involved in the first of two subsequent crashes.
For unknown reasons, Merritt reportedly struck the rear portion of Mclean’s vehicle. Mclean’s vehicle then struck the rear of Paul’s vehicle.
State Police investigators report Meade, driving a white dump truck, was also traveling in lane four. The second crash occurred when Meade struck the rear of Merritt’s vehicle seconds later. This caused a chain reaction causing Paul’s vehicle to be pushed onto the right shoulder subsequently striking Mallory’s vehicle which then struck Trooper Thompson, pinning him between the vehicle and guardrail.
Trooper Thompson was on the scene for approximately an hour before being struck. He was transported by ambulance to the University of Maryland Prince George’s Hospital Center. Trooper Thompson has since then been treated and released.
Troopers from the Forestville Barrack, Maryland State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division and Prince George’s County Emergency personnel responded to the scene. Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration personnel responded to assist with lane closures. Lane four was closed for approximately one hour.
CONTACT: Sgt. DaVaughn Parker, Office of Media Communications, 410-653-4236
[ This article originally appeared here ]
The trooper is identified as Trooper Warren Thompson, 42, assigned to patrol duties at the Forestville Barrack. He has been a member of the Maryland State Police for three years. Trooper Thompson was outside of his marked patrol vehicle when he was struck on the outer loop of Interstate 495 while investigating a multi-vehicle crash.
There were a total of five vehicles involved in the chain reaction crash. All the drivers were the sole occupants of their vehicles.
Theresa Mallory, 58, of Temple Hills, Maryland was driving a gray Toyota SUV and was parked on the shoulder. Mallory was transported to the University of Maryland Prince George’s Hospital Center by ambulance.
Vickie Mclean, 52, of Washington, D.C. was driving a red Toyota Corolla. There was no reported injury.
Mackenzie Paul of Sioux Falls, South Dakota was driving a gray Subaru SUV. There was no reported injury.
Jeremy Merritt, 48, of Hampton, Virginia was operating a white Nissan van. There was no reported injury. He is being charged with failure to control speed to avoid collision.
Carl Meade, 50, of Thornburg, Virginia was driving a white dump truck. There was no reported injury. He is being charged with failure to control speed to avoid collision.
The preliminary investigation indicates that shortly after 10:00 a.m. today, Trooper Thompson was dispatched to a report of a multi-vehicle crash on the outer loop of Interstate 495 at Pennsylvania Avenue. Trooper Thompson’s marked patrol vehicle was parked on the right shoulder with his emergency lights activated when the chain reaction occurred.
State Police investigators advised while Trooper Thompson was on scene investigating, two other crashes occurred within seconds prior to Trooper Thompson being struck. Merritt, Mclean and Paul were all traveling in lane four, adjacent to the right shoulder. They were involved in the first of two subsequent crashes.
For unknown reasons, Merritt reportedly struck the rear portion of Mclean’s vehicle. Mclean’s vehicle then struck the rear of Paul’s vehicle.
State Police investigators report Meade, driving a white dump truck, was also traveling in lane four. The second crash occurred when Meade struck the rear of Merritt’s vehicle seconds later. This caused a chain reaction causing Paul’s vehicle to be pushed onto the right shoulder subsequently striking Mallory’s vehicle which then struck Trooper Thompson, pinning him between the vehicle and guardrail.
Trooper Thompson was on the scene for approximately an hour before being struck. He was transported by ambulance to the University of Maryland Prince George’s Hospital Center. Trooper Thompson has since then been treated and released.
Troopers from the Forestville Barrack, Maryland State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division and Prince George’s County Emergency personnel responded to the scene. Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration personnel responded to assist with lane closures. Lane four was closed for approximately one hour.
CONTACT: Sgt. DaVaughn Parker, Office of Media Communications, 410-653-4236
[ This article originally appeared here ]