KEYSERS RIDGE — A Maryland State Police trooper escaped serious injuries late Sunday when an alleged drunken driver struck and demolished his patrol vehicle on Interstate 68, according to Maryland State Police.
The injured trooper was taken by ambulance to UPMC Western Maryland following the 11:48 p.m. crash. He was released following treatment of his injuries.
Police arrested Omar Tellez Gonzalez, 48, of Michigan, on charges of driving under the influence, reckless and negligent driving and related offenses before he was ordered jailed without bond at the Garrett County Detention Center.
Gonzalez was reportedly operating a Dodge Ram truck westbound on I-68 near the Keysers Ridge exit when he lost control of the vehicle and struck the marked state police patrol vehicle, which was stationary on the left shoulder with its emergency lights activated.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation with speeding and suspected drunken driving cited as contributing factors, police said.
All lanes of the interstate were shut down for two hours as a result of the incident, police said.