Officer wants more done about reckless driving a year after losing his legs

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. — Although more than a year has passed, Montgomery County Police Sergeant Patrick Kepp says he can still remember everything about the night he lost his legs to a reckless driver.

“It’s a vivid memory,” he recalls. “I was keenly aware that something was at least very badly wrong with my right leg. [I] Didn’t necessarily know as much about my left, but I had some sense that things were going to be drastically altered at that point.”

The driver, 19-year-old Rafael Mayorga, was reportedly traveling at least 110 mph along I-270 when he crashed into Kepp as the sergeant was laying down stop sticks to slow Mayorga’s vehicle down.

Although Mayorga was brought into custody and now faces multiple charges, including attempted first-degree murder, Kepp would have to undergo months of physical therapy to adjust to his new normal.

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Throughout his recovery, Kepp says he was focused on getting back to teaching new recruits, fulfilling his role as a DUI instructor, and bringing hope to his colleagues.

“It was really important for me, personally, to get back in the classroom,” said Kepp. “Being able to give a little motivation by me coming back to work, while I’m not on the road yet has been really important for me as well, I think and hope for them too.”

Now Kepp’s calling for Maryland’s lawmakers to take a stronger stand against reckless driving, which he claims has increased since COVID. MCPD says since 2022, officers have issued more than 5,800 citations for reckless and negligent driving 

“When myself and other officers make a stop and we look into our system and we see they have 28 stops, and 28 stops are for speeding, and it’s 27 warnings, that’s a problem,” he said.

RELATED: Sergeant who lost his legs in crash trying to pull over speeding driver wants to be back on police force

Exactly one year after Kepp’s crash, Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich echoed Kepp’s sentiments. During his Oct. 17 weekly briefing, Elrich called for putting jail time on the table for reckless and aggressive drivers. 

“Sending a serious message about the severity of their actions is the only way to drive home the point that their behavior has to change,” he said.

As Kepp continues his recovery, he also hopes to show incoming officers just how important it is to keep the county’s roads safe.

“Whether it’s stopping speeding drivers, stopping distracted drivers, or stopping impaired drivers, that work really does save lives,” he said.