MARYLAND POLICE OFFICER JUMPS ON VEHICLE ROOF TO AVOID DRUNK DRIVER

A Howard County police officer arresting a drunk driver on Route 175 escaped injury early this morning by jumping onto the roof of his vehicle when a second drunk driver drove into his police car. Officer Frank Moran, who graduated from the police academy two weeks ago, was on eastbound Route 175 over 95 around 2 a.m. arresting a drunk driver. Moran was standing outside his vehicle, which was parked on the slow shoulder of the roadway with emergency lights activated, leaning into the open driver’s side door.

A second officer on the scene saw a vehicle coming at Moran and called out to him. Moran jumped onto the roof of his car to avoid being struck, pulling himself up and pushing off the suspect vehicle with his feet as it hit the police car. The car did not stop and continued to drive onto I-95. Moran was not injured.

The officer who yelled out to Moran pursued the suspect and stopped her on I-95 near Route 100. The driver, who was identified as 25-year-old Jessica Rey of Elkridge, was arrested for DUI and was later found to have a blood alcohol level of more than 2.5 times the legal limit.

“We are thankful that Officer Moran was not injured, but this incident could have had a much worse outcome,” said Police Chief William McMahon. “We cannot stress enough the dangers of drinking and driving. No one should have to face the risks of sharing the road with impaired drivers.