2 Injured When Police Car Rear-Ended On Route 100: Officials

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — Two people were hospitalized after a driver rear-ended a police car on MD 100 while the officer was responding to another crash, authorities said. The policeman was taken to shock trauma and the driver of the car that hit him was taken to an area hospital.

Police said that the officer was investigating a minor crash that resulted in property damage on the ramp from MD 100 west to US 29 north around 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 11.

The officer was in the driver's seat of his patrol vehicle when he was hit, officials reported. His vehicle had its lights on and was in the right lane to divert traffic from the crash when a 2005 Chrysler PT cruiser slammed into it from behind, according to authorities.

The ramp from Route 100 west to US 29 north was closed during the investigation. During the closure, officials said traffic was diverted onto Route 29 south. The ramp had reopened by 2:10 p.m., authorities reported.

Police said the officer whose vehicle was hit was in fair condition at the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center Thursday afternoon, while the driver of the PT Cruiser was taken to St. Agnes Hospital with minor injuries.

In the aftermath of the crash, the Howard County Police Department reminded drivers about the Move Over Law.

"The law requires drivers approaching a stopped emergency or service vehicle with red, yellow or amber flashing to, when possible, move over a lane or slow to a reasonable and prudent speed that is safe for existing conditions while passing," police said in a statement.

The Move Over Law was first passed in 2010 in Maryland to ensure safety around emergency response and law enforcement vehicles. It was expanded in 2014 to include tow trucks and was again amended in 2018 to include recycling trucks, trash trucks and service/utility vehicles with yellow or amber flashing lights or signal devices.

The Move Over Law requires drivers approaching these vehicles to do the following:

• Move into a lane not immediately adjacent to the emergency vehicle.
• Slow down if it is not possible to move.

Violation of the law can lead to a fine of $110 and one point.

If the violation contributes to a crash, the fine is $150 and three points.

If the violation contributes to a traffic crash resulting in death or serious injury, the fine is $750 and three points.

PREVIOUS REPORT — The ramp from MD 100 west to US 29 is closed due to a crash midday Thursday, according to authorities. One vehicle was involved in the collision, state transportation officials reported.

No serious injuries were involved, according to the Howard County Police Department.

The ramp was closed from Route 100 west to Route 29 north, police reported at 11:55 a.m. on Thursday, July 11.

Traffic was being diverted onto Route 29 south during the closure, police said.

See the latest lane closure information from state transportation officials.