Officer Hit By Car 'Fights For His Life': Chief

Updated at 5:25 p.m.

The Montgomery County Police officer hospitalized in critical condition after a suspected drunk driver struck him during a traffic stop on Rockville Pike is part of the holiday task force trying to prevent just such accidents.

The accident happened about 9:45 p.m. Thursday on Route 355 (Rockville Pike) in the area of Edmonston Drive in Rockville.

Noah Leotta, 24, was on foot outside his patrol car when he was hit and suffered life-threatening injuries.

The department thanked the community Friday afternoon for the thoughts and prayers being sent to Leotta.

“Noah is not only a dedicated young police officer, he is a caring person who became a cop to serve the community where he grew up. He needs everyone’s prayers as he fights for his life,” said Police Chief Tom Manger.

Detectives say Leotta was conducting a traffic stop in the curb lane of northbound Rockville Pike and Edmonston Drive, when a 2012 Honda CRV northbound on Rockville Pike first struck Leotta’s marked cruiser and then struck the officer.

The driver of the CRV, Luis Gustavo Reluzco, 47, of Rolling Meadow Way in Olney, remained at the crash site. He was taken into custody under the suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs. Reluzco was not injured.

Due to the seriousness of Leotta’s injuries, Reluzco was required by Maryland law to submit to a blood test that will be analyzed for alcohol; those results are pending.

Leotta has been a Montgomery County Police officer since January 2013. He is a 4th District officer working as a member of the Holiday Alcohol Task Force, which devotes all its time to detecting alcohol-related offenses during the holiday season.

Anyone who saw the crash or has information about this collision is asked to call the Collision Reconstruction Unit at 240-773-6620.