Prince George's County Trooper Hospitalized After Cruiser Struck on I-495

A Maryland State Police trooper was hospitalized Thursday after a Ford Escape rear-ended a marked cruiser on the southbound Inner Loop of I-495 near the Annapolis Road exit (Route 450), shortly before 3 p.m., state police and Prince George’s County officials said. The trooper was taken to a local hospital; the nature and severity of the injuries were not immediately clear.

Fox 5 DC reported the trooper was conducting a roving patrol in lane 3 near Route 450 when traffic began to slow and the Ford Escape struck the cruiser from behind. Multiple outlets identified the striking vehicle as a Ford Escape; the driver of that vehicle was reported uninjured.

Medics transported the trooper by ambulance to a hospital for treatment, according to aggregated reporting. The crash briefly forced one lane of the Inner Loop to close; Fox 5 and other reports said all lanes had reopened by about 4 p.m.

Authorities in Prince George’s County and the Maryland Department of State Police are investigating the collision. As of Thursday evening, investigators were continuing to review the crash and determine whether charges will be filed, according to reporting that cited law enforcement updates.

The I-495 crash follows a separate, unrelated incident earlier in the week on Interstate 270 in Montgomery County. Patch reported that on Tuesday around 6:45 p.m. a Hyundai struck a trooper’s cruiser on southbound I-270 just before the Montrose Road exit in Rockville after the officer had completed a traffic stop. That trooper also was taken to a hospital and the Hyundai driver was not injured; the severity of the trooper’s injuries and whether charges would follow were described as unknown.

Maryland State Police and Prince George’s County Police Department have not released the trooper’s name or further medical details. Investigators are expected to review crash reports and available camera or dashcam footage as they determine next steps and any potential charges.