Wrong-Way Tractor-Trailer Drove 7 Miles Before Arrest: Police

EDGEWOOD, MD — A tractor-trailer driver was charged after driving more than 7 miles the wrong way on Interstate 95 in Harford County Monday afternoon, according to officials.

Police said their involvement began at the Maryland House, where a man reported his jacket and keys were stolen inside the travel plaza around 12:30 p.m.

As the victim was talking with troopers and identifying the suspect as a specific tractor-trailer driver, a Maryland Transportation Authority patrol unit told officers that a tractor-trailer had just exited Maryland House on the wrong side — it was driving south in the northbound lanes of I-95.

Police converged around the tractor-trailer with lights and sirens activated, some following the vehicle while others approached it on I-95 north traveling in the direction of traffic.

After about 3 miles, investigators said the driver stopped the tractor-trailer on the fast shoulder in a construction zone where highway crews were working. A trooper got out of his vehicle, climbed onto the passenger side step of the tractor-trailer and repeatedly told the driver through the window to shift into park and hand over the keys, police said.

Instead, officials reported the driver accelerated, throwing the trooper from the truck onto the highway, where he suffered minor injuries. He refused medical treatment at the scene, police said, while the driver sped off southbound on I-95 north.

For about 4 more miles, police said the driver continued on I-95 north going the wrong way and crossed all lanes onto the slow shoulder, where he made a U-turn in a construction zone, took I-95 north in the flow of traffic and got off on the exit.

An off-duty police officer who was aware of the incident followed the tractor-trailer as it exited, police said, and a Baltimore County police helicopter assisted, watching as the tractor-trailer pulled into a motel parking lot in the 1700 block of Edgewood Road.

Witnesses told police the driver ran into a wooded area behind the motel, according to troopers, who established a perimeter and tracked the suspect with help from Harford County Sheriff's Office deputies and a Harford County K-9.

Police said they found and arrested Maurice Cooper, 37, of Haverhill, Fla.., along the wood line.

Pending consultation with the Harford County State’s Attorney’s Office, police said Cooper faces these charges: attempted second-degree murder, first and second-degree assault, assault of a law enforcement officer, theft and other related traffic offenses.

As of Monday night, police said Cooper was awaiting an initial appearance before a Harford County court commissioner.

"Throughout the incident, the JFK Highway Memorial Barrack received numerous 9-1-1 calls reporting the tractor trailer driving against traffic on I-95," Maryland State Police reported. "There were no reported crashes due to the tractor trailer driving against traffic nor were any injuries sustained during the incident."

Any witnesses are asked to call the JFK Highway Memorial Barrack at 410-537-1150.