Charges Pending After Car Crashes Into State Police Cruiser

Alcohol is being investigated as the possible cause of an accident Friday night when a Toyota Camry crashed into a Maryland State Police patrol car that had stopped to help a disabled vehicle.

The accident happened about 9 p.m. on the inner loop of Interstate 495 at Interstate 270, the MSP says.Trooper Jason Hinish, 38, of the Maryland State Police Rockville Barrack, parked behind a disabled vehicle on the left should and activated his car’s emergency lights. Hinish also set up flares along the highway’s shoulder to warn drivers of the disabled vehicle.

As Hinish and the driver waited for a tow truck, a 2001 Toyota Corolla entered the left shoulder, drove through the flares and crashed into his marked MSP vehicle.

The driver of the Toyota Corolla, Khalid M. Shah, 53, of Gaithersburg, was taken by EMS personnel to Suburban Hospital for non-life threatening injuries.

Alcohol has not been ruled out as a contributing factor, State Police say, and charges are pending.

Anyone with information about the crash is asked to contact the Maryland State Police Rockville Barrack at 301-424-2101.