Police chase ends with multi-vehicle crash in Prince George’s County; 3 injured
Several hurt in wrong-way crash after police chase in Prince George’s County
Several people were hurt in a wrong-way crash after a police chase in Prince George’s County.
BRANDYWINE, Md. - Three people were injured in a multi-vehicle crash caused by a wrong-way driver who was being pursued by police Tuesday in Brandywine.
What we know:
The collision, which snarled traffic for hours, occurred in the 16700 block of Crain Highway (Route 301), north of Waldorf. The incident was reported at the Charles County and Prince George’s County line around 10:30 a.m.
Multi-vehicle crash leaves several seriously injured in Prince George’s County (Sunny Patel)
The vehicle that caused the collision was being pursued by Charles County Sheriff’s deputies at the time, according to witnesses and officials.
SkyFox was over the scene as Maryland State Police began their investigation.
Troopers said a Toyota Camry with two people inside was going northbound on Route 301, north of Waldorf. At some point, the car crossed the median, going north in the southbound lanes.
The Toyota then crashed head-on with a minivan, and three people had to be extracted from the wreckage. Two of the victims were transported by medevac in critical condition and one was transported in serious condition but with non-life-threatening injuries, according to first responders.
It is currently unclear what led to the initial police pursuit.
The Maryland Attorney General’s Independent Investigations Division is investigating the police-involved crash.
What they're saying:
Two carpenters who were in a van heading to a nearby Lowe's were shaken up as their van was struck and damaged.
"I can't believe it," said Jose Alegria, the driver of the van. "I just see in the side, and it's right there. That's all I see… I hurt my arm a little bit, but I think it's the airbag hit me a little bit, but I think I'll probably be okay."
Drivers were stuck for hours as southbound lanes of Route 301 were shut down for an investigation.
"We're trying to get back into Charles County. We're going down Route 301, and it took us about an hour to go about four miles," one driver told FOX 5’s Bob Barnard.
"I'm wondering if I could go that way and get around to get back on, but I don't know. So I just, I got gas, and I had lunch. So I'll just wait it out," another driver said.
The Source: Information in this article comes from the Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department.