Four police cruisers have been struck by impaired drivers over the past five weeks in Montgomery County, per a release from the Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD).
In the release, police referenced the statewide “Move Over Law” that went into effect Oct. 1. The law requires drivers to change lanes, or slow down if changing is not possible, when approaching any stopped vehicle displaying warning signals.
Police said that on Sunday, Nov. 13 around northbound I-270 and Montgomery Village Avenue, a Gaithersburg Police Department officer’s car was sideswiped while he was outside of the car conducting a traffic stop. He was assigned to MCPD’s Holiday Alcohol Task Force.
The following Sunday on Nov. 20, around northbound I-270 and Middlebrook Road, a Maryland State Police Trooper on the Holiday Task Force was initiating a traffic stop when his car was sideswiped.
That week, an officer saw a driver passed out at the wheel stopped at a green light at the intersection of New Hampshire Avenue and Lockwood Drive. Police said the officer positioned his car in front of the driver to prevent them from going into traffic. The driver woke up, tried to drive off and hit the officer’s cruiser.
On Friday, Dec. 9 on Gude Drive at Taft Street, an officer was outside their car on a service call when a driver struck the back of the cruiser. Police said the driver was taken into custody for suspicion of being under the influence.
MCPD’s Holiday Alcohol Task Force made 190 arrests in its first five weeks of enforcement since Nov. 9. The police department remembered Officer Noah Leotta, who was on the task force in 2015 when he was struck and killed by a drunk driver.
Four Police Cruisers Struck by Impaired Drivers in Five Weekshttps://t.co/1uujNiyjfE#MCPNews #MCPD pic.twitter.com/KQNbEhQrYR
— Montgomery County Department of Police (@mcpnews) December 13, 2022
