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Two Maryland state troopers were injured during a pursuit that started in Prince George's County and ended all the way in Baltimore County.
The suspect, a 30-year old man from Pennsylvania, led police on a chase along Interstates 95 and 495. He is now in State Police custody and will be formally charged tonight.
Around 10:30 Saturday morning, Maryland State Police College Park Barracks received multiple calls about an erratic driver who was operating in a dangerous manner on the inner loop of I-495 near Largo. The vehicle was described as a red Ford Mustang with Pennsylvania registration.
The driver, and only person in the vehicle, was flashing his headlights, and he made an unsafe lane change and swerved around the vehicle of a Prince George's County sheriff.
When officers tried to stop the vehicle, the driver threw a pack of cigarettes from the convertible back onto the trooper's car and continued to drive erratically, switching lanes and passing slower traffic on the shoulders of the interstate.
The suspect swerved into the side of a troopers marked patrol car and forced it into another marked patrol car. Both police cars spun out of control and crashed on either side of the interstate. In this same location, another motorist's vehicle was struck.
The injured troopers are in stable condition at Shock Trauma. They are identified as Trooper Michael O'Brien and Trooper Alphrin Norman, both of whom are assigned to road patrol duties at the College Park Barracks.
The other motorist who was hit is identified as Ellen Sistare, of Mitchellville, and is currently being treated at the Prince George's Hospital Center.
The suspect continued north onto I-95 north towards Baltimore. Maryland State Police and Prince George's County Police continued in pursuit. State Police notified Maryland Transportation Authority Police of the approaching pursuit.
The pursuit continued into the Ft. McHenry Tunnel on I-95. Just after the toll plaza, Maryland Transportation Authority Police officers had deployed tire deflation devices.
The suspect struck those devices, lost control of his car, and then struck two Prince George's County Police patrol vehicles. Neither county officer was injured, but one of the patrol cars was disabled.
The suspect was taken into custody by police on the scene.
He was transported to Bayview Hospital where he was examined and released about 3:00 p.m. Upon his release, troopers transported him back to the College Park Barrack for processing.
Troopers will consult with the Prince George's County State's Attorney's Office regarding charges, which are expected to be placed later tonight.
The investigation is continuing.
