Police say they attempted to stop a vehicle at an intersection, but the driver tried to flee and ultimately crashed into another car.
LANDOVER, Md. — A traffic stop in Landover, Maryland, turned fatal Friday night when a driver attempted to evade police, resulting in a crash that left one adult dead and two others, including a child, hospitalized, according to the Prince George’s County Police Department.
The Maryland Office of the Attorney General’s Independent Investigations Division (IID) reported that the incident began around 7:30 p.m. when an officer from the Seat Pleasant Police Department (SPPD) tried to pull over a Genesis sedan in the 6300 block of Martin Luther King, Jr. Highway. The driver initially complied but then sped off, prompting law enforcement to issue a BOLO (be on the lookout) alert.
Shortly after, Prince George’s County Police officers located the vehicle at a gas station in the 6700 block of Martin Luther King, Jr. Highway. When officers attempted another traffic stop, the driver once again refused to comply, leading to a brief pursuit.
The chase ended when the Genesis sedan crashed into an unrelated Nissan SUV at the intersection of Martin Luther King, Jr. Highway and Belle Haven Drive. The SUV was carrying an adult woman and a juvenile passenger. The woman was transported to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead, while the child suffered non-life-threatening injuries, according to PGPD.
The driver of the Genesis was critically injured and hospitalized. No officers were harmed during the incident.
Officials confirmed that both PGPD and Seat Pleasant officers involved had body-worn cameras, and their patrol vehicles were equipped with dash cameras.
The IID, assisted by the Maryland State Police Crash Team, is investigating the circumstances leading up to the deadly crash.
The Attorney General’s office stated that the name of the deceased and the identities of the officers involved will be made public within two business days, and body camera footage is expected to be released within 20 business days.
