WASHINGTON — A 26-year-old woman under the influence crashed her car into a police cruiser, partially trapping an officer under his car Sunday morning, Maryland police said.
The Maryland National Capital Park Police officer and a 26-year-old woman have been released with non-life threatening injuries, following the collision between a police car and an intoxicated driver early Sunday morning.
Police say that around 3 a.m. Sunday, the MCPP officer was completing a traffic stop near Georgia Avenue at Belvedere Boulevard and walking back to the police vehicle when he noticed a silver Jeep Wrangler approaching at high speed.
Realizing that the car was not going to stop, the officer -- who was working as a member of the Montgomery County Holiday Alcohol Task Force -- attempted to run out of the way. The Wrangler collided into the police car, dragging the car across two lanes of traffic and stopping with the officer partially trapped under his own vehicle, police said.
The 26-year-old female driver and her passenger, as well as the officer, were taken to a nearby hospital where they were released with non-life threatening injuries. The driver has since been arrested and charged with driving under the influence, police said.
Montgomery County Police said in a statement that Sunday's incident was a harsh reminder for those wishing to drink this holiday season.
"This incident is a stark reminder of the dangers law enforcement professionals encounter in their efforts to make our streets safe for all," the press release said. "We remind everyone to not drink and drive -- the results of doing so can be catastrophic."
