Montgomery County Police Investigating Howard County Officer Crash

Want more news? Get the daily Rockville email newsletter.

A Howard County police officer is at shock trauma Sunday after an allegedly intoxicated driver hit his patrol car near the Montgomery County line, authorities said.

At 4:25 a.m. Sunday, Pfc. Mike Marino responded to a call on US 29 north near Old Columbia Pike, the Howard County Police Department reported.

Marino, who has been with the Howard County force for nine years, found that a Takoma Park police officer had hit a deer on the Montgomery side of the county line, the report said.

He called for Montgomery police to respond and returned to his patrol car, which had its emergency lights activated, when a 2005 Nissan Murano hit his vehicle, according to the report.

Marino was taken by ambulance to shock trauma, where he was in stable condition Sunday afternoon, police reported.

Charges are pending against the driver of the Nissan—Richar Antiguas, 34, of the 200 block of 8th Street in Laurel—according to Howard County police, who said that alcohol and marijuana were believed to be factors.

Officials said the Montgomery County Police Department was investigating the crash.

According to police, this is the third Howard County police car to be hit in the last month by a suspected drunk driver.

Photo courtesy of the Howard County Police Department.