Maryland: Officer thanks God for his life after drunk driver crashes into his cruiser

"People just come to that light, like a moth to a flame, when they're intoxicated,” said Officer Edward Paden Jr., Montgomery County Police. A longtime police officer was struck by a drunk driver Saturday night.

Officer Edward Paden and his partner stopped on the side of Spencerville Road near Burtonsville Drive to help an 84-year old woman experiencing car troubles. "While assisting her, I had my vehicle offset, positioned to the rear of her vehicle, so when the vehicle came, struck me in the rear, it threw me into her driver's side,” said Paden.

56-year-old Pedro Vera was driving a 2006 Kia Sedona, and said he didn't notice both police vehicles' flashing lights. "Going by, he's stating he only had two glasses of wine and not being able to see my lights on my cruiser,” said Paden. “I'm only imagining what else he did not see on his way from the establishment that he left to the point that he made impact with my car."

Vera had a blood alcohol level of .11. The legal limit in Maryland is .08. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured in the accident, but the timing strikes a chord across the Montgomery County Police Department.

"We're coming up on a year anniversary of Officer Leotta being killed by a drunk driver, which highlights the point of in law enforcement itself that any given day can be deadly,” said Paden.

Even since being struck on the side of the road Saturday, Paden continues to make traffic stops, serving his community.

"Just take each one,” said Paden. “Put my hands in the good Lord's hands."

Over the last week, police have made 22 DUI arrests in Montgomery County.

Police urge people to make the right decision and choose a sober driver to get home.

A 20-dollar Taxi or Uber is a lot less than a $10,000 DUI fine or the loss of a life.