Trooper Hurt In Crash Involving Impaired Driver: Police

COLLEGE PARK, MD — Authorities said a state police trooper was hurt early Thursday morning during a traffic stop in College Park. Investigators said that led to the arrest of an impaired driver from Anne Arundel County.

Police said the suspect and the trooper were both briefly hospitalized and released soon after.

Authorities said suspect Damien Arnold Haman, 42, of Fort Meade, is being held at the Prince George's County Department of Corrections. He faces charges of driving under the influence, reckless driving and negligent driving, among other traffic-related offenses.

Haman was the driver and the only person in a silver Dodge Charger involved in the crash, investigators said.

Police said a trooper with the Maryland State Police College Park Barrack conducted a traffic stop on a blue Lincoln on the inner loop of I-495 near Route 1 at 12:47 a.m.

A second trooper arrived during the traffic stop and parked his vehicle directly behind the first trooper's vehicle, authorities said. Both patrol vehicles had their emergency lights activated.

"The trooper who initiated the traffic stop was standing behind the Lincoln, when the Dodge Charger, driven by Haman, struck the rear of the second trooper's vehicle," a press release said. "The impact of the crash caused a domino effect, subsequently pinning the first trooper between his vehicle and the Lincoln."

The trooper freed himself and moved away from the crash scene, authorities said.

Police said the trooper was taken by ambulance to the University of Maryland Capital Regional Medical Center, and Haman was taken to Adventist HealthCare White Oak Medical Center.

Authorities are still investigating.

This map shows the area where the Maryland State Police said the crash happened.