MARYLAND OFFICER DIES OF INJURIES SUSTAINED DURING PURSUIT

A decorated young police officer who was hit by another officer's cruiser in Aspen Hill yesterday died early this morning of his injuries. Officer Luke T. Hoffman, 24, was pronounced dead at 1:30 a.m. He joined the department 15 months ago, and was the top graduate from his police academy class last July.

Hoffman was struck about 12:30 a.m. Wednesday by a cruiser driven by Officer Stephen J. Wofsey. Hoffman had been chasing a suspected drunk driver, who abandoned his vehicle and was fleeing on foot, police said. Wofsey was driving to the scene to help in the pursuit.

After his cruiser hit Hoffman, Wofsey swerved off Old Georgia Avenue and slammed into a tree. Both officers were airlifted to the Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore after the crash. Wofsey, 26, was released from the hospital yesterday and could not be reached for comment. Police said he joined the department in 2002 and is a police officer III, the highest rank below corporal. The department's police collision reconstruction unit is investigating the crash and that the inquiry could take several weeks.