SILVER SPRING, Md. — A tow truck owned by the Maryland Department of Transportation was apparently stolen, and police apprehended a suspect after the truck smashed through police and civilian vehicles.
According to Maryland State Police, troopers from the Maryland State Police College Park responded to a hit-and-run crash involving four cars on the inner loop of Interstate 495 at the Greenbelt Metro Station.
While investigating the crash, MSP learned the driver of a Ford Ranger fled the scene and drove to a Park and Ride lot where the vehicle went off the road and struck a guard rail.
A State Highway Administration CHART vehicle responded to check on the driver, that is when the suspect reportedly stole the state truck and took off.
"I just had a crash and I was out at the park and ride at 95. Ugh, a guy just stole my truck from the park and ride."
After that, the driver in the tow truck plowed through around a dozen vehicles with reckless disregard for the welfare of other innocent drivers or officers trying to stop them.
According to investigators, troopers from the Rockville, Forestville and College Park barracks, located the vehicle at about 5:50 p.m. in the area of Briggs Chaney Road at Greenmount Road in Calverton, Maryland.
The suspect then took police on a chase that lasted nearly two hours, where he rammed into multiple cars, bother civilian and police.
Diane Pham was driving home from work when her car was hit by the reportedly stolen truck.
"Oh my god...the truck was straight at me," Pham said. "So scary. I'm still shaking right now."
At one point, the driver struck power lines with the vehicle and kept going.
The chase happened through multiple jurisdictions. The ordeal ended around 6:30 p.m. in the area of Silver Spring when the vehicle stopped in a wooded area, and officers aggressively smashed the windows with batons and forcefully removed the driver.
The suspect was taken to an area hospital with injuries that weren't life-threatening, according to the Montgomery County Department of Police.
MSP reports that 13 vehicles, which led to a civilian and two law enforcement members, a Maryland state trooper and a Montgomery County Police officer, were transported to area hospitals for treatment of their injuries.
Here's a breakdown of crashes the driver caused that were seen on Sky9:
- Near the Exxon gas station at Old Columbia Pike and Randolph Road
- Tow truck driver strikes police vehicle
- Police vehicle hits civilian vehicle as a result
- Near Cherry Hill and Prosperity
- Tow truck driver side swipes civilian vehicle
- Near Tech Road and Route 29
- Three civilian vehicles hit
- Near Old Columbia Pike and Tech Road
- One civilian vehicle hit
- Near Columbia Pike at Carroll Motor Fuels
- Four civilian cars hit
The suspect has not yet been identified.
Maryland State Police Pursuit Policy
Here's how the Maryland State Police explains its policy on pursuits:
A trooper must have probable cause for one or more of the following three factors in order to engage in a pursuit:
- Felony offenses;
- Hit-and-run traffic collisions resulting in bodily injury or death; or
- Significant reckless/disoriented driving actions PRIOR to the trooper’s involvement in a pursuit that could cause imminent danger to the public (includes but is not limited to: collisions with other vehicles, forcing other vehicles to take evasive action, failure to stop at controlled intersections, driving on the wrong side of the road, etc.)
No other details are known. This is a developing story, and it will be updated.
Do you have a news tip on this story or any other story? We want to hear from you. Tell us about it by emailing newstips@wusa9.com.
MORE WAYS TO GET WUSA9
DOWNLOAD THE WUSA9 APP
Apple App Store: WUSA9 News on Apple
Google Play Store: WUSA9 News on Android
HOW TO ADD THE FREE WUSA9+ APP TO YOUR STREAMING DEVICE
ROKU: add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching for WUSA9.
For both Apple TV and Fire TV, search for "WUSA9" to find the free app to add to your account. Another option for Fire TV is to have the app delivered directly to your Fire TV through Amazon.
SIGN UP TO RECEIVE WUSA9 NEWSLETTER
Subscribe to our daily WUSA9 Newsletter for top stories from WUSA9 curated daily just for you. Get content and information right now for can’t-miss stories, Commanders content, weather, and more delivered right to your inbox.