ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND (3/31/2016) Maryland State Police have charged a Delaware man who they say refused to stop for police in Baltimore and Anne Arundel counties and was taken into custody after he struck a tractor-trailer on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge.
Jonathan T. McFarland, 24, of Laurel, Delaware, was charged with 42 traffic violations. Charges include fleeing and eluding, reckless driving, negligent driving, failure to stop at the scene of a property damage accident, exceeding the speed limit, driving off the roadway while passing a vehicle and other related violations.
At about 8:40 p.m. Wednesday, Maryland State Police said troopers at the Golden Ring Barrack were notified by Baltimore County police to be on the lookout for a Lincoln MKZ with Delaware registration that had fled following an attempted traffic stop in the eastern part of the county. Troopers spotted the vehicle on the outer loop of Interstate 695 at Bel Air Road and attempted to stop it.
The vehicle did not stop and the driver was observed driving erratically, police said. State police said troopers ended their pursuit at Reisterstown Road, but continued to drive in the direction the suspect was heading.
Troopers from the Glen Burnie barrack saw the vehicle southbound on Interstate 97 and attempted to stop it for erratic driving. Again, police said, the driver refused to stop for marked police cars with lights and sirens activated.
Troopers followed the vehicle onto the Bay Bridge where it collided with a tractor-trailer and came to rest.
Neither the suspect nor the tractor-trailer driver reported being injured. The vehicle McFarland was driving is owned by his mother and was not reported stolen. McFarland was not wanted. A reason for his refusal to stop for police is unclear, police said.
McFarland was taken to Baltimore Washington Hospital for an evaluation and police said he remained there late this morning.
At least one vehicle was struck by McFarland as he drove erratically around I-695, police said. The driver of that vehicle was not injured.