On March 10, 2016 at approximately 1635 hours members of the
Calvert County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Bureau and Crash Reconstruction Team
responded to the intersection of Maryland Route 2-4 (Solomons Island Road South) and West End
Boulevard, Port Republic, Maryland 20676 for a report of a motorcycle involved
in a collision. Due to the severity of
the collision the Crash Reconstruction Team assumed the investigation into the
events of the collision.
During a preliminary investigation the following was determined:
On March 10, 2016 at approximately 1628 hours two sport
bikes were observed by a deputy just north of Broomes Island Road traveling
southbound on Maryland Route 2-4 at a high rate of speed. One of the motorcycles was doing a wheelie at
the time and both bikes were splitting lanes, traveling between vehicles. The Deputy notified the control center of the
observed violation and made a U-turn at the nearest crossover in order to
conduct a traffic stop for the aforementioned violations. After activating emergency equipment and
attempting to stop the motorcycles, the riders of both sport bikes accelerated
to speeds of approximately 130 to 140 miles per hour. Both motorcycle riders appeared to be aware
of the police vehicle presence and continued to travel southbound nearing
Broomes Island Road. Several deputies
were in the area and upon noticing the additional police vehicle; both
motorcycles made a U-turn at Broomes Island Road and proceeded northbound towards
the busy Prince Frederick Town Center.
Deputies attempted to keep up with the motorcycles and observed one of
the motorcycles, described as a blue/white and black in color, make a U-turn at
Whispering Woods subdivision crossover and began to travel southbound on
Maryland Route 2-4. Several deputies,
who were responding from the Prince Frederick area, continued to attempt to
stop the motorcycle traveling southbound.
The second motorcycle, a black and yellow 2007 Honda,
continued northbound towards the Prince Frederick Town Center. As deputies attempted to get the operator to
stop the motorcycle, the operator swerved all over the roadway, passing
vehicles on the shoulder at speed exceeding 130 miles per hour. Deputies had traffic stopped just prior to
entering the Prince Frederick Town Center in an effort to stop the motorcycle.
The motorcycle made a U-turn through the grassy median just south of the blocked
intersection of Old Field Lane in Prince Frederick and proceeded southbound on
Maryland Route 2-4. The deputies
continued to attempt to get the motorcycle to stop; however, due to the high
rate of speed and fast acceleration, police vehicles had a difficult time
following the motorcycle.
The motorcycle continued southbound on Rt. 4 at a high rate
being operated in a reckless manner, violating numerous traffic laws with
blatant disregard for public safety, during the evening rush hour traffic. As the motorcycle passed the intersection of
Broomes Island Road, he passed two stationary police vehicles with lights and
sirens activated, without stopping. The
motorcycle continued southbound where other deputies were located. Due to the speed of the motorcycle and the
wanton and willful disregard for the safety of the public the operator was
displaying, deputies began stopping traffic at intersections the motorcycle was
approaching in an effort to avoid crossover collisions.
As the traffic volume was already heavy, due to the rush
hour, several vehicles were stopped or nearly stopped at the intersection on
Maryland Route 2-4 and West End Boulevard.
As the motorcycle approached slower traveling traffic, it struck the
rear of a 2010 Toyota Rav-4, which was in the left turn lane for Western Shores
Boulevard. Upon striking the Toyota, the
operator was ejected from his motorcycle and continued to travel in a southerly
direction. The operator then collided
with the rear of a 2014 Ford F-150, which was stopped at the time.
Deputies immediately began rendering first aid to the
operator who was unconscious, but breathing on his own. While en-route, to Calvert Memorial Hospital the
operator’s condition worsened and EMS staff began administering cardiopulmonary
resuscitation (CPR) while en-route to the hospital. Upon arrival to the hospital the operator was
assessed and pronounced dead by the CMH ER Staff. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in
Baltimore, MD will perform an autopsy in order to determine the exact cause of
death.
The deceased operator was later identified as Troy Alexander
English, a 20 year old male of Patuxent River, Maryland
The operators and occupants of other involved vehicles did
not sustain significant injury. All
involved were evaluated on the scene by EMS.
It appears that reckless driving by English and speed are
factors in this collision; however, the investigation is ongoing at this time.
During the course of the investigation the investigators
identified the second motorcycle operator and are following up on that
information.
It was determined that even prior to police contact the
motorcycle operators were travelling at such high speeds that had they T-boned
another vehicle, the likelihood of the crash resulting in death or serious
bodily injury to the occupants would have been significant.
DFC Beisel of the Crash Reconstruction Team, along with
other investigators, are investigating events that led up to this
collision. Anyone who may have witnessed
the motorcycles in Calvert or St. Mary’s Counties is asked to contact DFC
Beisel at 410-535-2800 ext. 8417 or beiselww@co.cal.md.us. Individuals may also contact Sgt. V. Bortchevsky
of Criminal Investigations Bureau at 410-535-2800 Ext. 2540 of
bortchvi@co.cal.md.us with additional information.
