Trooper Struck While Attempting To Stop Impaired Driver In Anne Arundel Co.

(ANNAPOLIS, MD) — A driver believed to be impaired is under arrest tonight after he drove his car into the side of the patrol car of the Maryland state trooper attempting to stop him just west of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge on Rt. 50 in Anne Arundel County.

The driver is identified as Dillon C. Haneke, 23, of Edgewater, Md. He is being charged tonight by Maryland State Police with driving under the influence, assault, and reckless endangerment. He will be taken to the Anne Arundel County central booking center later tonight for his initial appearance before a court commissioner.

The trooper involved is identified as Trooper Andrew Lee, who is assigned to road patrol duties at the Glen Burnie Barrack. Trooper Lee has been a trooper with the Maryland State Police for 2.5 years.

At about 7:00 p.m. today, several calls from citizens were received at the Glen Burnie Barrack reporting a possible impaired driver eastbound on Rt. 50. Callers said the driver was weaving through the lanes and driving very slow.

Trooper Lee spotted the Pontiac G6 eastbound on Rt. 50 near exit 29 and saw it weaving across lanes and driving about 10 mph. The trooper activated his emergency lights and attempted to stop the car, but the driver did not stop. The trooper drove to the right side of the vehicle, lowered his window, and verbally ordered the driver to stop, with his emergency lights still activated on his marked police car. The trooper then drove ahead of the weaving vehicle, at which time the suspect struck the driver’s side of the trooper’s car.

While still in contact with the trooper’s car, the suspect’s Pontiac then struck the jersey wall and turned onto its side prior to the Bay Bridge. The patrol car did not overturn. No other vehicles were involved.

The driver was not injured and was arrested at the scene, after troopers observed multiple signs of impairment. A male passenger, also impaired, was in the suspect’s car. He was taken to the Anne Arundel Co. Medical Center by ambulance.

The trooper was transported to the Anne Arundel Medical Center by another trooper. He was examined as a precaution and released.

Personnel from the Maryland Transportation Authority Police and MdTA civilian staff assisted at the crash scene, as did members of the State Highway Administration. The roadway at the scene of the crash completely reopened at about 9:30 p.m. today.

The investigation is continuing.