A driver observed by a state trooper to be headed east in the westbound lanes of a Charles County highway was fatally injured in a crash moments later when he accelerated away from the trooper attempting to stop him.
The driver is identified as Gerard V. Hall, 48, whose last known address was the 800-block of Roxbury Court, Waldorf, Md. Hall’s driver’s license was revoked and he had an alcohol restriction requiring an ignition interlock system. He was the driver and sole occupant of a 2012 Nissan Altima without an interlock system registered to an apparent friend at the same address.
At 11:15 p.m. yesterday, a trooper assigned to the La Plata Barrack called in the tag number of the vehicle Hall was driving. Moments before, the trooper had observed the Nissan being driven east in the westbound lanes of Smallwood Drive. The driver had pulled into a business parking lot, where he was seen unbuckling his seat belt before pulling back out onto Smallwood Drive, this time headed east in the eastbound lanes.
PREVIOUS STORY: On Wednesday June 4 at 11:15 p.m., Trooper P. Kenge of the Maryland State Police LaPlata Barrack was on duty in the area of Smallwood Drive and Barrington Road. At that time, he was operating a marked Maryland State Police Ford Crown Victoria.
While sitting stationary at the intersection Kenge observed a White Nissan Altima bearing Maryland Registration 2BK4596 traveling eastbound in the westbound lanes of Smallwood Drive.
Kenge attempted to initiate a traffic stop on the vehicle at Smallwood Drive at the Carrington Center, located at 335 Smallwood Drive. The vehicle pulled into the parking lot, failed to stop, and re-entered eastbound Smallwood Drive. The vehicle failed to stop at the red traffic signal at Smallwood Drive. at St. Charles Parkway and traveled through the intersection striking a tree. The driver was transported to Charles County Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased by medical staff.
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