Car Crash Sends Maryland Officer to Hospital

Police said they're investigating a two-vehicle crash in Columbia that left a Howard County police officer injured Wednesday.

June 23, 2011

COLUMBIA, Md. --

Police said they're investigating a two-vehicle crash in Columbia that left a Howard County police officer injured Wednesday.

Howard County traffic police said a patrolling police car was traveling west at Freetown Road and Quarterstaff roads at about 5:56 p.m. when a 2003 Honda Odyssey entered the intersection and hit the police cruiser.

Investigators said the officer, 26-year-old Pfc. Christopher Calcaterra, was briefly trapped in the car and suffered injuries that were not life-threatening. He was taken to Howard County General Hospital.

Police said the 17-year-old driver of the Honda had two passengers in the vehicle, 6-year-old and 8-year-old girls, at the time of the collision. None of the Honda occupants were injured, police said.

Police said that according to initial investigation, the teen driver did not stop while approaching Freetown Road, which contributed to the collision.

The investigation is ongoing, police said.