Cop Involved in Triple-Fatality Crash Not Indicted for Negligence

An embattled Takoma Park police officer who reportedly caused an Annapolis area car crash that killed three people will face only traffic charges in the deaths.

An Anne Arundel County grand jury on Friday declined to indict Travis Ala on a charge of criminal negligence, according to State’s Attorney Wes Adams.

Ala, who lives in Anne Arundel County, was involved in a March 21, 2015, crash that killed a father, his teenage daughter, and her friend. Maryland State Police said Ala reportedly didn’t see stopped traffic in time to avoid causing the fatal crash.

The victims were Raymond Badders, 63, of Manchester, his daughter, Susannah Badders, 19, of Manchester, and her friend, Jason Simpkins, 19, of Ellicott City, according to Maryland State Police.

The crash occurred on eastbound Route 50 at the Route 665 overpass. Authorities say Ala, who suffered minor injuries, was driving a 2011 Nissan X-Terra registered to the Takoma Park Police Department.

Adams said the Maryland State Police will now issue Ala with traffic citations for misconduct, including: reckless driving, negligent driving, failing to control speed to avoid a collision, and driver changing lanes when unsafe.

Ala faces another legal battle for an alleged road rage case; in June 2015 he was indicted by a Prince George’s County grand jury for the July 2014 run-in.

WTOP reports Ala faces charges of first- and second-degree assault and use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence.

Ala was allegedly driving on Route 50 in Bowie on July 6, 2014, when he encountered a slow-moving car in the left-hand lane. Prosecutors say the angry off-duty officer swerved around the vehicle, pulled in front of it and hit his brakes. As Ala tried to pass, a witness in the other vehicle says the officer pointed a handgun at the car.

The victims reportedly began taking pictures of Ala until he drove away. They gave Ala’s license plate number to police, who traced the vehicle to him.