Trooper Struck on I-495; Suspect Charged with DUI

A Washington, D.C., man faces drunk driving and other charges for allegedly crashing his SUV into a Maryland State Police trooper’s car on Interstate 495, then claiming he had been carjacked when he fled the scene.

Maryland State Police say the hit and run crash that injured the trooper happened about 3:30 a.m. Friday during a traffic stop along I-495 in Prince George’s County.

Trooper James Tegeler, a 3.5 year veteran assigned to the Forestville Barrack, was treated and released from Prince George’s County Hospital.

According to a release from the State Police, Tegeler was seated inside his marked patrol vehicle on the right shoulder of I-495 near Suitland Parkway, with the emergency equipment activated. While completing paperwork, a 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe struck the right passenger side of the patrol car, went down a culvert and struck a guardrail.

Authorities say the driver jumped out of the Tahoe and fled the scene on foot. The SUV driver was identified as Christopher Wright, 31, of the 2000 block of E Street NE, Washington D.C. Wright was charged on traffic citation with violations of driving under the influence, reckless driving, operating the vehicle in a negligent manner, and failing to stop after a collision involving injury.

The third driver at the scene is Janice Dejesus, 53, of Annapolis, who was driving a Ford Explorer with two passengers, Tina Brown, 48, and Karica DeJesus, 34. None of the occupants of the Explorer were injured.

Investigators say after running from the scene, Wright called 911 to report he had been carjacked. He was taken to Forestville Barrack by Prince George’s County Police officers. Troopers determined that Wright was the driver who fled the scene of the collision and may have been driving under the influence of alcohol.