PIKESVILLE, Md. (Feb. 09, 2010) – Maryland state troopers answered thousands of calls for service during the weekend storm, but most of those calls involved disabled or unattended vehicles caught in the snow.
From noon Friday, February 5th, through 11:00 p.m. yesterday, February 7th, troopers across Maryland responded to more than 2,900 calls for service. Of those, more than 1,300 involved vehicles that had become disabled or were found unattended along an interstate or state highway. Troopers at the Frederick Barracks dealt with 140 disabled/unattended vehicles, the most of all 22 barracks. They were followed by Waterloo Barracks in Howard County (131), Glen Burnie Barracks in Anne Arundel County (130), and Golden Ring Barracks in Baltimore County where troopers handled 112 disabled or unattended vehicles.
Troopers responded to 389 traffic crashes. Most of those crashes (232) involved minor property damage and no personal injury. Troopers handled 157 crashes that involved either personal injury and/or damage significant enough to require the vehicle to be towed. Troopers at the Forestville and College Park barracks in Prince George’s County handled a combined 56 crashes, while troopers at the Rockville Barracks in Montgomery County handled 55 crashes.
Troopers made 685 requests for tow trucks during the period. More than 100 requests were made by troopers from the Glen Burnie Barracks, who patrol Anne Arundel County.
Colonel Terrence B. Sheridan, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police is today reminding motorists that travel is still hazardous in many locations around the state. While most of the interstates are incredibly clear, there are still areas of some that are snow and ice covered, which can create a serious hazard for the unsuspecting driver. Travel is even less predictable on secondary roads.
Vehicles that are still abandoned on state roads and interstates continued to be towed and stored by Maryland State Police in order to facilitate snow removal by the State Highway Administration. No parking is permitted on state roads or interstates when the snow emergency plans are in effect. The most vehicles stored by troopers were in Prince George’s County, where 33 vehicles were towed away and in Montgomery County, where troopers stored 28 automobiles.
Drivers whose vehicles were towed from state routes by State Police should contact the barracks nearest to where the vehicle was left. A list of barracks and locations is available at www.mdsp.org.
For vehicles towed in Prince George’s County, owners can call the Forestville Barracks at 301-568-8101, or the College Park Barracks at 301-345-3101. Owners of vehicles towed by State Police in Montgomery County should call the Rockville Barracks at 301-424-2101.
Additional troopers remain on patrol as cleanup from the weekend snow continues and preparations are made for the predicted mid-week storm. Troopers assigned to the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division, Automotive Safety Enforcement Division, and the Special Operations Division, have been reassigned to road patrol duties to supplement the regular patrol force across Maryland.
Source: MSP HQ