Police in Maryland say a driver faces weapons and drug charges after the person crashed into a police car, leaving an officer and another person with minor injuries.
Montgomery County police said the person who was found injured in the back seat of a car after a crash in Silver Spring Thursday morning was not shot, as police initially believed, but instead was seriously hurt in the crash.
The strange situation began shortly after 7:15 a.m. Thursday when a 1999 Subaru Impreza SW — which was later reported stolen — and a 2016 Honda Pilot collided in the 300 block of Wayne Avenue.
Maryland-National Capital Park Police said on Twitter that a driver in Silver Spring crashed into one of its squad cars Thursday morning. The officer’s vehicle was hit from behind, and the officer and another person were treated at a hospital and released, the Associated Press reports.
Police called to the scene said the driver and the front-seat passenger of the Subaru fled the crash and a person described only as a juvenile male was found in the back seat with traumatic injuries. At first, police said it “appeared” the boy had been shot, even calling him a “shooting victim” in a tweet.
However, after the boy was taken to the hospital in serious condition, a medical examination determined his injuries were actually the result of the crash, police said Thursday afternoon.
Four people in the Honda were also injured in the collision — one adult and three juveniles, police said. Their injuries were not life-threatening, according to police.
Police said they were looking for the two people who fled the Subaru, and they’re now investigating the entire incident as an auto theft.
Detectives urge anyone with information to call the Central Auto Theft Section at (240) 773-6370. Those who wish to remain anonymous may call Crime Solvers of Montgomery County toll-free at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477) or enter a tip online. Crime Solvers will pay a cash reward of up to $10,000 for information provided to them that leads to an arrest for this crime.
Below is a map showing where the crash happened:
