LAUREL, MD (WUSA) – A Maryland state trooper was killed early Saturday morning in a traffic crash on southbound I-95 in Howard County. Maryland State Police have identified him as 39-year-old Trooper First Class Shaft Hunter.
MD State Police say the crash occurred about 2:40 a.m. south of Rt. 32, near the entrance ramp to the rest area.
MSP Press Release:
Trooper Killed in Crash Identified
State Police officials say witnesses saw Trooper Hunter in pursuit of a speeding motorcyclist when the trooper slammed into a tractor trailer parked on the side of the road just before the on-ramp into a rest stop. The trooper was pronounced dead at the scene.
Trooper Hunter was an 11-year veteran of the Maryland State Police force and was assigned to the Waterloo Barrack in Jessup, MD. He was also a marine veteran. Trooper Hunter leaves behind 6 children ranging in age between 4 and 19.
Investigators are now hoping to find the speeding motorcyclist they believe Trooper Hunter was trying to stop.