State Trooper Identified, Was Critically Injured in Beltway Crash

Updated at 7:35 p.m.

LANHAM, MD — Maryland State Police have released the name of the trooper who was critically injured after being extricated from his patrol car in a crash that closed the outer loop of the Beltway for hours.

Trooper Ezra N. Ganeshananda, 26, is currently listed in critical condition at the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center, where he continues to undergo treatment for his injuries, authorities said.

Ganeshananda joined the Maryland State Police in January 2015 and graduated as a member of the 143rd Trooper Candidate Class in July 2015. He is assigned to road patrol duties at the College Park Barrack.

He has a brother who is also a Maryland state trooper. His brother, other family members, fellow troopers, Lt. Colonel Anthony Satchell and Colonel William Pallozzi are with him at the Shock Trauma Center.

At 4:20 p.m., Prince George's County Police said on Twitter that the Outer Loop of I-495 near Route 450 would likely be shut down about 90 more minutes by the crash.

Shortly before 2 p.m., Ganeshananda was on the slow shoulder of the outer loop of the Capital Beltway, north of Route 450 investigating a crash that had occurred. A damaged vehicle was in front of him and a rollback tow truck had pulled in front of that vehicle.

While Ganeshananda was seated in his vehicle, a second crash occurred nearby. A vehicle from that crash struck Ganeshananda and his patrol car on the shoulder. The trooper was trapped inside the vehicle and had to be extricated by Prince George's County Fire Department personnel.

State Highway Administration personnel suggest this detour around the area: Exit 20, MD 450 South to MD 410 to MD 201 Kenilworth Ave back to northbound Outer Loop I-95/495.

In addition to the trooper, a man in another vehicle was injured and flown to a trauma center, says WTOP.