MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. — A Maryland State Trooper was struck on the southbound lanes of Interstate 270 in Montgomery County Wednesday morning, according to Montgomery County Public Information Officer, Pete Piringer.
The incident happened on southbound I-270 at Route 28 West Montgomery Avenue on the main express lanes in Rockville, Piringer tweeted.
Piringer said a Maryland State Police trooper was conducting a traffic stop when the incident happened.
Maryland State Police identified the trooper involved as Trooper Brian DeHaven of the Rockville Barrack. DeHaven was taken to Suburban Hospital for treatment of his injuries, which were not thought to be life-threatening.
The vehicle involved in the crash was a 2012 Toyota Venza, according to MSP. The driver of the Toyota was identified by police as 44-year-old Jose Ascencio of Germantown.
The preliminary investigation found that at around 6:10 a.m., DeHaven was struck by the Venza while he was outside his patrol vehicle on the left shoulder of I-270 Southbound at Exit 6, West Montgomery Avenue. Police say DeHaven was conducting a traffic stop on a 2019 Kia passenger car at the time.
The trooper’s marked Ford Explorer was parked behind the Kia with its emergency lights activated on the left shoulder of the highway, according to police. He was standing in between the jersey wall and the driver's side of the Kia when the Venza swerved and struck both DeHaven and the two vehicles on the shoulder.
The Maryland State Crash team is conducting an investigation. Charges are pending the outcome of that investigation.
The drivers of both the Kia and Toyota were not injured in the crash.