Maryland’s Independent Investigations Division has issued its own account of last week’s pursuit-related crash near Brandywine — the incident we first reported on Aug. 27 — confirming no officers were injured and laying out a specific timeline for releasing officers’ names and body camera footage.
The IID, part of the Maryland Office of the Attorney General, is investigating the Aug. 25 crash with assistance from the Maryland State Police Crash Team. Its account largely matches our earlier reporting: Charles County Sheriff’s Office deputies initiated a traffic stop around 10:20 a.m. after Arlington County, Virginia police flagged a wanted vehicle; the car fled, and deputies pursued it before it crashed on Route 301 just south of McKendree Road, near the Prince George’s/Charles County line.
Two adult women in the fleeing vehicle were hospitalized, one in grave condition — consistent with what we reported previously. An adult woman in one of the vehicles it struck was also injured and hospitalized. The IID’s release states explicitly that no officers were hurt.
The IID’s description of the struck vehicles differs slightly from our earlier reporting, which — citing Maryland State Police — identified them as a Dodge Postmaster van and a Toyota Sienna, with injuries reported to occupants of both. The IID’s release refers more generally to “two other, uninvolved cars” and specifies one injury. That may reflect the investigation refining its account since our initial report; we’re noting the difference rather than resolving it.
One correction to our earlier coverage: we previously cited general IID protocol of 48 hours for releasing officer names and 14 days for camera footage. The IID’s own release on this specific case gives different, more precise figures — names are generally released within two business days, and body-worn and dash camera footage within 20 business days — though both timelines can be extended, including for witness interviews, technical work to protect civilian witnesses’ identities, or to allow family members to view footage before it’s made public.
The IID said no further information will be released at this time about the identity of the woman in grave condition. This case is separate from our Aug. 25 report on an unrelated stolen-vehicle chase that same week. Anyone with information on this investigation is asked to contact the IID at 410-576-7070 or IID@oag.maryland.gov.
