MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. — A warning has been issued to the public after four police cruisers were allegedly hit by impaired drivers over a 5-week span in Montgomery County.
In a release, the Montgomery County Police Department broke down each collision that happened between Nov. 13 and Dec. 9.
The first incident was reported just before 12:30 a.m. on Nov. 13 near northbound I-270 and Montgomery Village Avenue. A Gaithersburg Police officer, assigned to the Holiday Task Force, explained they were outside their cruiser during a traffic stop when their patrol car was side-swiped by a red 2021 Ford Explorer. The officer claims the driver of the Explorer was under the influence at the time of the crash.
A week later, a Maryland State Police Trooper, also assigned to the Holiday Task Force, was conducting a traffic stop just after 1:30 a.m. in the area of northbound I-270 and Middlebrook Road. The trooper claims their emergency lights and sirens were activated when the cruiser was side-swiped by a 2011 Nissan Maxima, in the travel lanes of the roadway. The trooper then tried to stop the Nissan Maxima, but the driver did not immediately pull over. A short time later the driver came to a stop, where police say it was determined the driver was under the influence.
On Friday, Nov. 23, another cruiser was hit just before 11:30 p.m. when an officer noticed a driver allegedly passed out at the wheel of another car. The officer reportedly positioned his cruiser in front of the other car to avoid it from going into oncoming traffic. The driver awoke and attempted to drive off, hitting the officer's marked cruiser in the process.
Finally, just before 9 p.m. on Dec. 9, an officer left their cruiser on, with the lights activated, during a call for service near Gude Drive and Taft Street. That is when the driver of a 1996 Geo 4S reportedly collided with the back of the police cruiser. Officers claim the driver was taken into custody under the suspicion of being under the influence.
"I was fortunate enough where they hit my car. It absorbed most of the damage," said Sgt. Cody Fields with Montgomery County Police whose car was struck from behind.
The collisions come just weeks after the Move Over Law went into effect in Maryland. Starting Oct. 1, drivers are required to make a lane change or slow down when approaching all stopped, standing or parked cars displaying warning signals. The signals include:
- Hazard warning lights
- Road flares
- Traffic cones
- Caution signs
- Non-vehicular warning signs
The Montgomery County Police Holiday Task Force began on Nov. 9 and will run through Jan. 1, 2023. So far this year, the task force has led to 190 arrests.
In 2015, a member of the Holiday Task Force was killed while conducting a traffic stop near Rockville Pike and Edmonston Drive. Police Officer III Noah A. Leotta was killed after he was struck by a drunk driver in the intersection.
"When you see us on the side of the road, first and foremost, know we're there... to help you. We're there to make sure that people make the right decision and protect the motorist on the road," said Sgt. Fields. "But, please give us space. Move over. And if you are going to drink, just have a plan," he added.
We're told no one has seen Yaquelin Hernandez Ramirez since Sunday morning. She was last seen at her home on 'Muddy Branch Road' in Gaithersburg.