Off-Duty Cop Drove Cruiser in Crash that Killed Three: State Police

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An off-duty Takoma Park police officer reportedly didn’t see stopped traffic in time to avoid causing a crash that killed three people, say authorities.

Two teenagers, injured when the car they were sitting in behind stopped traffic on Route 50 was struck, died Sunday from injuries sustained in the Annapolis crash.

The victims are Susannah Badders, 19, of Manchester, and her friend, Jason Simpkins, 19, of Ellicott City. Both were pronounced dead Sunday at the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center, where they had been flown following the crash, according to Maryland State Police.

Susannah Badders’ father, Raymond Badders, 63, of Manchester, died at the scene of the crash.

The crash occurred at about 2:45 p.m. Saturday on eastbound Route 50 at the Route. 665 overpass.

State police say Raymond Badders was a passenger in the rear seat of a 2007 Toyota Corolla driven by his daughter. Simpkins was seated in the front passenger seat of the car.

Authorities say Travis M. Ala, 28, of Anne Arundel County, was driving a 2011 Nissan X-Terra. Ala was treated and released from Anne Arundel County Medical Center. The vehicle he was driving is registered to the Takoma Park Police Department, where Ala is employed as a police officer. He was off-duty at the time of the crash.

A third vehicle involved in the crash was a 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo. The two occupants of that vehicle were not hurt

Investigators say Badders’ Toyota was stopped in a line of heavy traffic that was caused by a prior accident up ahead at exit 23. Ala was eastbound on Route 50 and apparently did not see the stopped traffic in time to stop.

Evidence indicates Ala swerved to the right and struck the rear of the Toyota, say state police. The force of the crash caused the Ala’s Nissan to overturn and pushed the Toyota into the Jeep Cherokee that was ahead of it.

The investigation into the crash is continuing. No charges have been filed at this time. The completed investigation will be forwarded to the Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney’s Office for review regarding charges.