Police Cars Struck by Drunk Driver on I-495: Police

SUITLAND, MD — A pair of Maryland State Police patrol vehicles were struck by a driver who was arrested for driving while impaired on Interstate 495 Tuesday night.

Police arrested 62-year-old Kenric Stephens of Temple Hills on charges of driving while impaired and related traffic charges, according to a report from Maryland State Police.

Both patrol vehicles were fortunately unoccupied. They were stopped, one behind the other, in lane four of the inner loop of I-495 south of Allentown Road to protect the scene of a crash in the roadway at around 11 p.m. Tuesday night, the report states.

Both vehicles had emergency lights activated and the troopers were assisting those involved with the crash when Stephens' 2016 Toyota Tacoma "failed to stop and struck the rear of one of the patrol vehicles, driving it into the one in front," the report states.

Stephens was not injured in the crash. He was transported to Upper Marlboro for booking.

Police closed three lanes of I-495 at the scene of the crash for around 45 minutes.

Image via Flickr user Tony Webster