(GLEN BURNIE, MD) – Maryland State Police today issued traffic charges to an Anne Arundel County driver involved in a crash four months ago that critically injured a state trooper on a traffic stop.
The driver is identified as Enrique Guzman, Jr., 21, of Pasadena, Md. He was issued two traffic citations this morning at his home by a Maryland State Police Crash Team investigator. He is charged with a violation of Maryland’s ‘move over’ law, which carries a fine of $750. He is also charged with negligent driving, which carries a fine of $280. The penalty for each charge also includes three points if the violation contributed to a traffic crash. Acceptance of the citations is not an admission of guilt. Guzman has a right to stand trial on the charges or pay the fines prior to trial.
The charges were placed after a detailed crash reconstruction and investigation was conducted by the Maryland State Police Crash Team. The investigation was reviewed by the Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney’s Office. After the review, prosecutors determined the two charges listed above should be issued to the driver.
Guzman is charged in connection with a crash that occurred at about 1:00 a.m. on October 6, 2013, on eastbound Rt. 100, prior to the Catherine Avenue exit. Trooper Jacqueline Kline, assigned to the Glen Burnie Barrack, had just stopped on the shoulder of the highway to back-up a K-9 trooper on a traffic stop. The investigation revealed that as Trooper Kline walked along the highway shoulder toward the patrol car in front of her, the car driven by Guzman struck her.
Trooper Kline was thrown onto the hood of the striking vehicle, a 2007 Nissan Versa. She was then propelled into the back of the State Police K-9 car, where she struck the back windshield and metal K-9 cage inside the car.
Trooper Kline was hospitalized for several weeks, but is now out of the hospital. She continues to improve with a speed that amazes her medical team and her fellow troopers.
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I know ignorance of the law is no excuse ..once again the law happy legislature of Maryland passed this law and did nothing to educate the citizens...it's been in effect for some time now and I never see a stop that people get over for the emergency vehicle or car having difficulties.
ReplyDeleteI doubt seriously this law is even the law in many of the states who pass through Maryland and suspect most out of state vehicles actually step on the gas to prevent others from resuming their travel where they started.
in all fairness they don't have this law in mexico so the driver of course was unfamiliar with it!
ReplyDelete@9:20...the move over law is implemented in 49 states throughout the country. The only place it is not in effect is Washington D.C. You must have been one of the ones texting all your "peeps" during drivers education class instead of paying attention and learning the rules of the road. Can't say that I ever recall learning to drive on the shoulder of the road especially when there are cars in your path of travel...not to mention, cars with BRIGHT RED AND BLUE FLASHING LIGHTS.
ReplyDeleteThey were so many idiots operating vehicles without the common sense or common decency to move over into the unoccupied lane, lawmakers had to pass legislation to make it a law. The sheer stupidity of motor vehicle operators on the highway is overwhelming.
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