A woman driving under the influence hit a Maryland Transportation Authority police officer's cruiser at a crash scene on Interstate 95, Maryland State Police said.
A trooper responded to a crash at I-95 and the Intercounty Connector in Beltsville, and Transportation Authority Officer Jordan Williams arrived to help.
"The officer's sitting in his car assisting the Maryland State Police on a traffic collision investigation, and the next thing you know, someone doesn't want to obey the law and move over and hits the driver's side of the vehicle," Maryland Transportation Authority Police Lt. Kevin Ayd said. "Could have been a lot worse than it was. We're very fortunate."
Williams' cruiser was in a construction zone with his emergency lights on, police said. The driver didn't stop.
"The vehicle certainly damaged that Transportation Authority police car, injured the officer, but the driver continued on from the scene, drove through the scene and continued northbound up 95," said Greg Shipley of Maryland State Police.
Troopers stopped the car further north on Interstate 95 and arrested the driver, 43-year-old Carol Reed of Columbia. She is charged with driving under the influence and failing to remain at the accident scene, Sgt. Travis Brown said.
Williams was treated at a hospital and released.
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The hit-and-run came just hours after News4 reported about efforts in Maryland to protect first-responders on the side of the road. Since the beginning of 2016, 12 state troopers have been hit on the Beltway, Maryland State Police Capt. Daniel Pickett said.
"This is not just about the move over law," Shipley said. "This is about people paying attention. This was a construction scene with cones. Regardless of move over, this was a scene that was blocked off."
