Maryland State Trooper Injured When Car Hits Cruiser

Maryland State Police say a trooper was injured when his cruiser was struck by a car while he investigated a crash on the Baltimore beltway.

Trooper First Class Christopher Hall's cruiser was stopped on Interstate 695 early Monday with its emergency equipment activated as he investigated a crash near Route 702. While Hall waited for the crash to be cleared, police say a Dodge Stratus hit the right rear of the cruiser.

Hall, 28, was taken to Shock Trauma.

The driver of the Dodge, 63-year-old Vicente Lopez-Calixto, is charged with violating the move-over law and for failing to control the speed of his vehicle to avoid a collision. Police say there is no evidence of alcohol or any substance that would have contributed to the collision.

Two similar crashes happened earlier this month, injuring one trooper and destroying another's cruiser.

In response to those collisions, Maryland State Police kicked off new efforts last week to remind drivers to move over when emergency vehicles are stopped on the side of the road. MSP said special enforcement operations would be underway in every area of the state and drivers should be alert.