CALVERTON, Md. — The identity of the man accused of stealing an MDOT State Highway Administration vehicle was released Saturday morning.
Flavio Cesar Lanuza, 27, is facing at minimum vehicle theft and first-degree assault charges following Friday’s wild police pursuit. More charges are likely, investigators said. The chase began in Prince George’s County and ended in Montgomery County, with Lanuza striking more than a dozen vehicles along the way.
Shortly after 5 p.m. on Friday, Maryland State Police College Park responded to a hit-and-run crash involving four cars at the inner loop of I-495 at the Greenbelt Metro Station. Lanuza was driving a white Ford Ranger involved in the crash.
According to preliminary reports, Lanuza fled the scene of the crash, drove into the Park and Ride of the Greenbelt Metro Station, where he went off the road and struck a guardrail. A state issued tow truck responded to the scene to check on Lanuza and ensure he was okay.
Lanuza got out of the Ford truck he was driving and stole the state-issued tow truck. Troopers from the College Park Barrack attempted to stop him along the outer loop of I-495 causing a second collision. Lanuza hit two vehicles and continued to flee.
Troopers briefly stopped the pursuit to check on the drivers of the two vehicles. The tow truck is equipped with GPS and later that evening at 5:50 p.m. officers from other districts located the tow truck on Briggs Chaney Road in the Greenmount Road area of Calverton, Maryland.
As police began to encroach on Lanuza, his driving became more evasive, video of the chase showed. Lanuza drove through power lines, rammed a Maryland State Police vehicle, pushed a vehicle into oncoming traffic causing a head-on collision while trying to flee, drove along the opposite side of the road striking multiple vehicles, all before the vehicle got stuck in a ditch at 6:30 p.m.
According to initial reports, Lanuza struck 13 vehicles and two law enforcement cars, all transported to area hospitals with minor injuries.
Lanuza is currently being treated at Suburban Hospital for his injuries. According to ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Baltimore office, Lanuza is in the country illegally. Due to the crimes committed on February 16, an immigration detainer was issued on Monday. The detainer was launched with Montgomery County Detention Center, where he will be incarcerated following his released from the hospital.
At this time we do not know when his first court appearance will be scheduled.