Investigation Continues Into Fatal Collision, Nearly 18 Minutes Lapsed Before Help Arrived

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD — The Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department confirmed to NBC Washington that an investigation is underway into the delayed response by emergency personnel to a deadly head-on car crash last week.

According to officials, it took first responders almost 18 minutes to arrive at the crash site.

A police pursuit began in Upper Marlboro when an officer attempted to stop two cars driving in the area of Harry S. Truman Drive and White House Road about 6:30 a.m. June 8. Neither vehicle stopped and one of the cars, a Dodge Challenger, crossed the center line and crashed head-on into a vehicle driven by 66-year-old Jonny Morris of Charles County, who died of his injuries at the hospital, police said.

Fifteen minutes after the first call was placed by an officer to a dispatcher, an officer reported they had begun CPR, the fire/EMS department said.

The county had already confirmed that the Independent Investigations Division of the Office of the Attorney General would be investigating the fatal crash. The officer's in-car camera was activated during the incident.