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MCP Cruiser Struck by Drunk Driver While Officer Assisting Motorist

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, November 23, 2016

Media: The officer whose cruiser was struck by the drunk driver is available to speak with reporters today at noon at the new Public Safety Training Academy located at 8751 Snouffer School Road in Gaithersburg.

On Saturday, November 19, just before 11:00 p.m., two off-duty Montgomery County Police (MCP) officers were providing traffic control at a mosque on Spencerville Road (Route 198) in the area of Burtonsville Drive.  An 84-year-old woman approached the officers and explained that her car’s engine had stopped and would not restart; her Pontiac Sunfire was on the side of eastbound Spencerville Road.  One officer walked the woman back to her car while the other officer positioned his marked patrol cruiser behind the disabled vehicle and activated the patrol car’s emergency lights.  The woman sat in the passenger seat of her car while the officers requested a tow truck.

During this time, a 2006 Kia Sedona traveling east on Spencerville Road rear-ended the MCP cruiser that had been positioned, with its emergency lights activated, behind the disabled vehicle.  At the time of the collision, the assisting officer was in the driver’s seat of his cruiser.  The force of the collision caused the police cruiser to collide with the disabled vehicle with the woman sitting in the passenger seat.  Fire and Rescue personnel responded to the scene and assessed the conditions of all persons involved in the collision.  All parties were released from medical treatment at the scene.

The driver of the striking vehicle (2006 Kia Sedona) was identified as Pedro Gaona Vera, age 56, of Laurel, Maryland.  He was arrested and charged by MCP officers for driving a vehicle under the influence of alcohol (DUI).  Gaona Vera consented to a breath test which indicated a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) of (.11).  The legal BAC limit is (.08) in Maryland.

MCP continues to urge those who choose to drink alcohol to make the right decision and choose a sober driver for your ride home.

RLI

 

Cruiser Struck by Drunk DriverCruiser Struck by Drunk Driver (Original Image)
Striking Vehicle - Driver was under the influence of alcoholStriking Vehicle - Driver was under the influence of alcohol (Original Image)


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Release ID: 16-325
Media Contact: mcpnews 
Categories: impaired-driving