PRINCE FREDERICK, Md. (July 27, 2009)—A Dunkirk teenager is dead after her car was struck Friday at approximately 10:47 a.m. by a Calvert County deputy en route to what police termed a "priority assignment." Rachael Alexandra Campbell, age 18, was pronounced dead on the scene. Deputy C. W. Wells was transported to Baltimore Shock Trauma via MSP Trooper 2 with life-threatening injuries. He was in critical condition but was released from the hospital on Sunday, according to the sheriff's office.
The accident occurred at the intersection of MD Rt. 4 (Southern Maryland Blvd) and Apple Way (Apple Green Subdivision) Dunkirk.
The sheriff's office issued a statement saying that since one of their deputies was involved in a fatal accident, they requested the assistance of the Anne Arundel County Police Department and the Maryland State Police in order to conduct an independent investigation into the events leading up to the crash.
The sheriff's office today released the following information which was determined during their preliminary investigation:
"A blue 1997 Buick Le Sabre was traveling south on MD Rt. 4 (Southern Maryland Blvd) and was in the process making a left turn onto east bound Apple Way (Apple Green Subdivision). This maneuver required the Buick to drive across both north bound lanes of MD Rt. 4 (Southern Maryland Blvd).
"Traveling north bound in the fast lane on MD Rt. 4 was a Calvert County Sheriff's Office cruiser, a 2006 Ford Police Interceptor, responding to a priority assignment in the Dunkirk area. CCSO cruiser had its emergency equipment activated as it approached the aforementioned intersection.
"Both vehicles entered the intersection and collided in a t-bone type collision. During the collision the 1997 Buick Le Sabre was struck by the 2006 Ford Police Interceptor on the right side B-pillar causing a major intrusion into the passenger compartment between right front and right rear tires of the Buick.
"Upon impact the Buick was redirected and sent into a grassy area on the east side of MD Rt. 4. The Buick subsequently caught fire. The CCSO cruiser entered a rollover and came to final rest in the culvert on the east side of MD Rt. 4, upside-down leaving the deputy entrapped."