LAUREL, Md. --
Maryland State Police said a trooper with less than a week on patrol had to jump out of the way of a suspected drunk driver who plowed into a patrol car.
Authorities said Trooper Elix Gerber and trainee Thaddeus Allen stopped behind a disabled vehicle early Friday on northbound Interstate 95, south of Laurel.
The troopers lighted flares and placed them behind the disabled vehicle and their own vehicle. The state police vehicle was unmarked, but its emergency lights were on, authorities said.
"As they were placing flares, the troopers saw a Ford Escort headed toward them at a high rate of speed," state police said in a news release. "Gerber and Allen both jumped over the concrete barrier out of the way of the oncoming Ford, just as it slammed into the back of their patrol car and pushed it into the disabled vehicle."
Neither trooper was injured.
The driver of the Ford Escort was identified as Scott A. Schwartz, 27, of Baltimore. He was charged with driving under the influence, reckless driving and failure to reduce speed to avoid a collision, officials said.
Allen graduated from the State Police Academy last week.
The case is still under investigation.
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