Md. Man Charged With DUI After Hitting Police Cruiser

Dec. 16--CUMBERLAND -- A Cumberland Police officer working traffic enforcement on eastbound Interstate 68 in the city was hospitalized when his marked police cruiser was struck by a 20-year-old city man who was allegedly driving under the influence of drugs.

Patrolman First Class Daniel Seaman, a four-year veteran of the department, was taken to the Western Maryland Regional Medical Center for treatment of injuries that were not life-threatening following the 10:29 p.m. crash. He was discharged early Friday.

A Cumberland Fire Department ambulance also took Alonza D. Singleton to the hospital for treatment of his injuries that were also said to be not life-threatening. Singleton was also discharged following treatment of his injuries, according to Maryland State Police who investigated the accident.

State police at the Cumberland barrack reported their investigation revealed Seaman was seated inside his 2011 Ford Crown Victoria police cruiser when his vehicle was struck by a 1994 Nissan Altima operated by Singleton. The crash occurred after Singleton lost control of his vehicle, causing it to travel off the roadway and onto the concrete median for the Johnson Street exit. The impact of the Singleton vehicle was to the driver's side of Seaman's vehicle.

Seaman, a former Hancock Police officer who joined the Cumberland force in October 2007, was trapped in his damaged vehicle for a short time before he was removed by Cumberland Fire Department personnel.

A city police spokesman said a steel reinforcement bar in the driver's side door of the police vehicle and the side air bag helped prevent greater injuries to Seaman.

After being discharged from the hospital, Singleton was arrested and charged with the DUI offense and negligent driving and jailed on $5,000 bond set by a district court commissioner.

Deputies of the Allegany County Sheriff's Office also responded to the scene and answered several other calls in the city during the traffic incident.

Copyright 2011 - Cumberland Times-News, Md.