3 officers assisting in crashes struck by cars on Md. highway

BETHESDA, Md. - Three law enforcement officers were injured after being struck by cars in separate accidents Thursday evening in Montgomery County.

Fire officials said three separate collisions occurred just before 6:30 p.m. on both the northbound and southbound lanes of Interstate 270 nearby Rockledge Drive.

According to Maryland State Police, a Montgomery County sheriff rear-ended a vehicle, which led to a Montgomery County police officer to check on the accident. However, that officer's vehicle was hit by another car. The same chain of events happened when a Maryland state trooper arrived on the scene and his car was struck by another vehicle.

All three suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

Maryland does have a "Move Over" law that requires drivers to make a lane change if possible to allow first responders such as police officers, firefighters, and emergency rescue personnel to work on the roadway.

Traffic was affected on I-270 after the crash. The left lane on southbound I-270 was closed off while the left shoulder on the northbound lanes was blocked off as well. Just after 7:30 p.m., all lanes were reopened to traffic.