A car hit an off-duty officer who was grocery shopping with his mother at a Shoppers in Bowie, Maryland, authorities say. News4’s Darcy Spencer reports.
An off-duty D.C. police officer is seriously hurt after being hit by a vehicle in a shopping center parking lot in Prince George’s County, Maryland, on Friday morning, authorities say.
Officer Kenneth Daniels had critical injuries and was set to be admitted to an intensive care unit, Dr. Tom-meka Archinard, chief medical officer of University of Maryland Capital Region Medical Center, said at a news conference. She did not speak about the nature of his injuries.
“It’s a very serious situation we're dealing with," said D.C. Chief of Police Robert Contee, who identified the officer.
Daniels had just walked out of a store in the 10500 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Highway at about 10:40 a.m. when he was hit by a vehicle, county police said.
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“He was just out shopping with his mom," Contee said.
Good Samaritans came to the officer's aid and alerted police to the crash. Officers stopped a black SUV with damage to the front end.
Chopper4 footage shows an overturned shopping cart and bags strewn in the street near a Shoppers grocery store.
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The circumstances surrounding the crash are still under investigation, but police say there’s no reason to believe Daniels was struck on purpose.
No additional information was immediately released on the circumstances of the crash. The driver was cooperating with police, the department said. No charges were immediately filed. The investigation is ongoing.
Daniels has been with the Metropolitan Police Department for 23 years, Contee said, calling him a “good friend” with whom he grew up.
“Please keep him in your prayers,” the chief said.
Stay with NBC Washington for more details on this developing story.
