Unlicensed Driver Charged In Fatal Crash During Police Chase
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- A shattered tail light and tire tracks are the only pieces of evidence left behind from a deadly joyride that ended on a street in Cockeysville, Md. on Monday afternoon.
"The dump truck was coming down the opposite direction and plowed into the side of the car, spun him around. He ended up where is he now." Tom Baron, a witness said.
Witnesses watched as a stolen dump trump barreled down Cranbrook Road, crossing the center line head on into another driver.
Police have identified the suspect and victim in a deadly car crash Monday. The suspect is accused of stealing a dump truck and crashing into the victim's car while fleeing from police.
"Obviously, immediately at the outset of this, showed no regard for the safety of our troopers as he drove at them. We believe he was exhibiting that same disregard for the safety of others as he continued down the road." Greg Shipley, Maryland State Police said.
The suspect has been identified as 26-year-old Zackery M. Haeger. On Monday afternoon, Shipley said Haeger walked out of a Baltimore City Walmart at 2 p.m. and into the truck that was parked outside.
Police say he gave a false name to troopers, but his fingerprints identified him as Haeger. Police determined he does not have a driver's license.
The victim has been identified as 58-year-old Leon M. Jones. Jones was transported to Shock Trauma in a Maryland State Police helicopter after the accident and police say he died late Monday afternoon.
RELATED: 1 Person Injured In Crash During Police Chase
Police say that they received a call shortly before 2 p.m. Monday that a Ford F550 dump truck owned by a roofing company from Hampstead, Maryland, had been stolen in Baltimore. They were told the truck was traveling north on I-83.
Troopers then located the vehicle in the parking lot of the Walmart on York Road in Cockeysville. Police then waited until Haeger left the store and got back in the truck. Officers then tried to stop Haeger but he allegedly accelerated directly at two troopers who were on foot. They managed to get out of the way without being harmed.
Haeger then reportedly drove south on York Road with police in pursuit. Officers say he drove through a red light and struck another vehicle, causing disabling damage.
He continued driving and police say he crossed the double yellow center line into the southbound lanes of Cranbrook Road in the area of Rossbrooke Road. It was there that Jones swerved into the northbound lanes to avoid being hit, but Haeger allegedly reentered the northbound lanes and struck Jones' Nissan head-on.
Authorities say Haeger then tried to escape on foot but was apprehended by police a short distance away.
Haeger is being held without bond in the Baltimore County Detention Center. The complete list of his charges are as follows:
-negligent manslaughter by auto
-criminally negligent manslaughter by vehicle
-negligent auto homicide while under the influence
-homicide by a motor vehicle while impaired by alcohol
-homicide by a motor vehicle while impaired by drugs
-homicide by a motor vehicle while impaired by a controlled dangerous substance
-two counts of first-degree assault
-two counts of second-degree assault
-unlawful taking of a motor vehicle
-failure to stop at a red light
-exceeding the speed limit
-negligent driving
-reckless driving
-driving under the influence of alcohol
-driving while impaired by alcohol
-attempting to elude uniformed police by failing to stop
-attempting to elude uniformed police by fleeing on foot
-attempting to elude police in official police vehicle by failing to stop
-attempting to elude police in official police vehicle by fleeing on foot
-attempting to elude police resulting in bodily injury to another
-attempting to elude police resulting in death of another
-failure to remain at scene of accident involving bodily injury
-failure to remain at scene of accident involving death
-failure to stop after accident involving damage to vehicle
-failure to remain at scene of accident involving damage to vehicle
-failure of driver involved in accident to render assistance to injured person
-driving without a license.
Police are still working to figure out what motivated his fatal drive.
"We have to focus on who is responsible, no why they did what they did, because some of these things you just can't explain." Shipley said.
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