On the evening of September 14, 2025, a stolen white Kia Optima from Prince George’s County led Calvert County Sheriff’s Office deputies on a high-speed pursuit that ended when the vehicle crashed into a residence in Owings, Maryland. The incident, which unfolded around 5:59 p.m., involved four juvenile occupants, three of whom were injured, and caused significant property damage but no reported injuries to residents of the home.
The sequence of events began when deputies received an alert about the stolen vehicle entering Calvert County via MD Route 260. Deputy MacWilliams spotted the Kia traveling along the route and attempted to initiate a traffic stop. Upon noticing the deputy, the driver accelerated, passing other vehicles on the shoulder and driving recklessly. Deputies activated their emergency equipment, but the driver refused to stop, prompting a pursuit. Additional sheriff’s units joined to assist as the chase continued eastbound on MD Route 260 and then westbound on Mt. Harmony Road.
In an effort to halt the fleeing vehicle, deputies deployed Stop Sticks, a tire-deflation device commonly used by law enforcement to safely end pursuits. The driver, however, swerved toward officers and continued to flee. The pursuit came to an abrupt end near Alyssa Way when the driver failed to navigate a turn on Mt. Harmony Road. The Kia veered off the roadway, struck a telephone pole, crossed through a yard, and collided with a residence. The impact caused structural damage to the home, though no residents were reported injured.
The vehicle carried four juvenile occupants. Three sustained injuries in the crash, while one fled on foot into a nearby wooded area. Deputies quickly established a perimeter and, with the assistance of K9 units and drone resources, located and detained the fleeing suspect without incident. The individual who fled was uninjured. Deputies provided medical aid at the scene to the injured occupants. The juvenile driver was airlifted by Maryland State Police helicopter to a regional trauma center in critical condition. Two other passengers were transported by ground to local hospitals for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. The condition of the fourth juvenile was not disclosed beyond their lack of injury.
The Calvert County Sheriff’s Office Crash Reconstruction Unit has taken over the investigation, which remains ongoing. In accordance with Maryland law, the Office of the Attorney General’s Independent Investigations Division (IID) was notified of the incident due to the involvement of law enforcement in a pursuit resulting in serious injury. The IID, which investigates police-involved incidents leading to serious injury or death, declined to investigate this case, leaving the matter with the sheriff’s office. Authorities are seeking witnesses to the crash or the events leading up to it and have asked anyone with information to contact DFC Jeffrey Hardesty at Jeffrey.Hardesty@calvertcountymd.gov, referencing case number 25-76666.
Vehicle pursuits are a high-risk tactic for law enforcement, governed by strict protocols in Maryland to balance public safety with the need to apprehend suspects. Calvert County Sheriff’s Office policies, aligned with state guidelines, permit pursuits only when the need to capture a suspect outweighs the risks posed to the public, officers, and suspects. The use of Stop Sticks in this case reflects standard procedure to minimize danger, though the driver’s evasive actions escalated the situation.
The investigation will likely examine factors such as the driver’s actions, the condition of the vehicle, and the decision-making process during the pursuit. The Crash Reconstruction Unit’s role involves analyzing physical evidence, such as skid marks and vehicle damage, to reconstruct the sequence of events. Witnesses may provide critical details about the Kia’s path or the driver’s behavior before the crash. The sheriff’s office has not indicated whether charges have been filed against the juveniles, pending the ongoing investigation and the driver’s medical condition.
