DUNKIRK, MD - On July 24, 2009 at approximately 10:47 a.m. members of the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office Crash Reconstruction Team (CRT), Anne Arundel County Police Department and Maryland State Police responded to the intersection of MD Rt. 4 (Southern Maryland Blvd) and Apple Way (Apple Green Subdivision) Dunkirk for a report of a serious motor vehicle crash involving a Calvert County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) cruiser.
The following was determined during a 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.
The operator of the 1997 Buick Le Sabre sustained mortal injuries and was pronounced dead on the scene. The operator of the Buick has been identified by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore as Rachael Alexandra Campbell, 18, of Dunkirk.
The operator of the CCSO cruiser was identified as Deputy C. W. Wells of the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office. 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, July 26.
Due to the nature of the crash, which involves a CCSO deputy, Calvert County Sheriff’s Office 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.
