Car Hits Montgomery County Police Officer, 2 Troopers: Police

ROCKVILLE, MD — A Montgomery County Police officer and two Maryland state troopers were hurt Tuesday when a Pennsylvania driver reportedly crashed into the county patrol car as the officer helped a disabled vehicle. Authorities say all three police officers were taken to area hospitals with what are believed to be non-life-threatening injuries, while no injuries were reported by the striking driver.

The accident was reported at 11:43 a.m. on the ramp from westbound West Montgomery Avenue/Route 28 to southbound Interstate 270 in the Rockville area. According to Maryland State Police, a Montgomery County Police Officer was stopped with a disabled motorist whose Toyota Corolla was stuck on a curb at the exit. In a news release the officer is not identified by name, only as a veteran county female officer.

Maryland Trooper Joseph Ekani and his trainee, Trooper Brian Reilly, stopped to assist the Montgomery County officer, parking their marked patrol car parallel to the curb with its emergency equipment activated, officials say. As the Montgomery County Police officer walked up to talk with the troopers, a 2013 Chevrolet Cruz driven by Jeffrey Allen Newberger, 34 of New Freedom, Pennsylvania, came around a curve and reportedly struck the rear of Ekani’s Ford Explorer.

The collision impact caused the Montgomery County officer to be thrown onto the pavement; she was taken to Suburban Hospital for treatment.

Troopers Ekani and Reilly, both assigned to the Maryland State Police Rockville Barrack, were taken to Shady Grove hospital for treatment.

Authorities have not said if charges will be filed in the case.