Anne Arundel County Detective Seriously Injured In I-97 Crash
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- An Anne Arundel County Police detective was seriously injured in a rear-end crash Monday morning on Interstate 97, authorities said.
The multi-vehicle crash happened about 8:15 a.m. on southbound I-97 near Route 32, according to preliminary details released by Anne Arundel County Police.
Police said a Chevrolet pickup and the detective's unmarked SUV were slowing down or stopped when a tractor trailer rear-ended the police vehicle, pushing it into the back of the pickup.
"Traffic there does get very congested," Anne Arundel County Police spokesperson Lt. Jacklyn Davis said. "There is a lot of merging in that area, so our understanding is that traffic was slowing. Not quite at a stop yet, but was rapidly decelerating."
The officer, who suffered serious injuries in the wreck, was flown to an area trauma center for treatment, police said. The officer is listed in stable condition.
The tractor trailer's and pickup's drivers were also taken to area hospitals with injuries that are not considered life-threatening.
Alexia Jackson works at a coffee shop located near the interstate. She said she heard all the sirens whirring as ambulances raced toward the scene.
"I had a lot of people coming in this morning asking for directions on how to get out to [I-97)," Jackson told WJZ.
According to the police, the tractor trailer was inspected afterward, but it's unclear whether mechanical failure or driver error were responsible for the crash.
The crash briefly shut down traffic in both directions of I-97, but the congestion had subsided hours later.
Members of the community expressed concern for the detective after learning of the crash.
"That's horrible to hear, especially on a Monday right before the holidays," Anne Arundel County resident Alyson Frank said. "I hope he's okay."
