What to Know
- An early Saturday morning crash along Interstate 270 in Montgomery County, Maryland, shut down traffic in both directions.
- A Maryland State Police cruiser with a trooper inside was on the shoulder of the road when it was struck.
- The scene is located between Maryland Route 28 and Interstate 370, near Exit 6.
Investigators said alcohol may be to blame for a three-car crash along Interstate 270 in Montgomery County, Maryland, that injured a Maryland State Police trooper and five other people.
The crash happened early Saturday morning between Maryland Route 28 and Interstate 370, near Exit 6. At one point, both northbound and southbound lanes of I-270 were closed. The road was fully opened by 9:45 a.m.
Maryland State Police investigators said a trooper in an unmarked cruiser was on a traffic stop on the left shoulder of northbound I-270.
Just before 7 a.m., a Lexus SUV struck the rear of the cruiser, causing it to strike the Acura the trooper had stopped, police said. Witnesses said the female driver of the Lexus veered from the travel lanes, striking the rear and driver's side of the cruiser and pushing it into the stopped Acura.
Montgomery County Fire and EMS spokesman Pete Piringer said the trooper was trapped inside the unmarked cruiser and had to be extricated. A Maryland State Police spokesperson said the trooper is listed in stable condition.
Update - I270 @MDSP Trooper vehicle struck on shoulder, Trooper trapped & has been extricated, Pri2 NLT injuries pic.twitter.com/Xtba21jqOo — Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) June 25, 2016
Local
Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia local news, events and information
State police said the driver of the Lexus was injured and taken to a hospital.
The man driving the Acura and three passengers, including a woman and two young children, were also taken to the hospital as a precaution. Piringer said all appeared to have non-life-threatening injuries.
State police investigators said the driver of the Lexus is suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol and charges are pending.
