Police: Elkridge Motorcyclist in Critical Condition After Collision with Prius

An Elkridge man is in critical condition after his motorcycle was struck by another vehicle on US-29 Tuesday morning, said Howard County police.

Allen Michael Harris, 22, of the 5900 block of Augustine Avenue in Elkridge, was riding his Suzuki motorcycle in the middle lane of US-29 S at approximately 10:02 a.m. when a Prius hit his bike from behind, said police. Based on preliminary investigation, officials believe that speeding contributed to the collision.

Harris was transported by ambulance to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center, where officials reported he was in critical condition as of Tuesday afternoon.

The driver of the Prius, Dhruvkumar Patel, 19, of Baltimore, was not injured, said police.

For an hour and a half, all lanes of US-29 S were shut down while officials cleared the scene of the collision, which occurred between MD-108 and MD-175.

Both Harris and Patel had received speeding tickets in the past two years. Harris was cited for speeding in Howard and Anne Arundel Counties a total of two times in 2009, according to court records. Patel received two citations also, for speeding in Frederick and Prince George’s Counties in 2010. 

According to Howard County Police spokeswoman Elizabeth Schroen, “The investigation is ongoing."