Crime & Safety

Bowie Woman Dies After Driver Fleeing Traffic Stop Crashes Into Her: Police

A 69-year-old Bowie woman died Wednesday after a driver eluding police crashed head-on into her vehicle, police say.

BOWIE, MD — A 69-year-old Bowie woman died Wednesday afternoon after her vehicle was hit by a man who was eluding a traffic stop.

Prince George's police officers were attempting to pull over a driver around 2:45 p.m. Wednesday near Lanham Severn Road and Driscoll Drive. The driver currently is a suspect in an active investigation, the police department stated.

That driver initially pulled over, but then took off from the traffic stop headed toward 9th Street. Seconds later, a police supervisor ordered officers to stop any pursuit of the suspect via the police radio.

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However, around half a mile from the initial traffic stop site, the suspect crossed the double yellow lines in the 12800 block of 9th Street and crashed into a vehicle driven by 69-year-old Deborah Saffran of Bowie. She was pronounced dead at the scene. A third vehicle also was hit but that driver wasn't injured, the police department stated.

The suspect was taken to the hospital with serious injuries that weren't life-threatening.

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Once the investigation wraps up, charges will be considered by the Prince George’s County State’s Attorney’s Office.

Investigators ask that anyone who may have witnessed the collision or who has dash camera or home surveillance footage that may have captured the incident contact the Prince George’s County Police Department at 301-731-4422.

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