At approximately 6:45 PM, while Frederick Police officers were investigating a three-vehicle traffic accident, a man ignored traffic controls and officers' orders and drove through the scene endangering those involved.
Traffic on Rt 26 East was restricted to a one-lane detour at Monocacy Blvd and backed up to Rt 15. John Anthony Klingler was operating a 2002 Subaru WRX and was in the que of vehicles waiting to detour around the accident when he rapidly accellerated and drove around a flare pattern set out to restrict vehicular traffic onto the detour. He then drove past a police vehicle sitting in the middle of the intersection with its emergency lights flashing and continued through the scene at an increasing rate of speed. The vehicle he was driving narrowly missed three police officers who were in the middle of the scene conducting the investigation and a tow truck operator who was preparing one of the crashed vehicles for removal from the scene.
Officers from the scene then gave chase and located the Subaru near the entrance to the Dearbought subdivision where they conducted a traffic stop. Klingler was identified as the driver, arrested and transported to the Frederick County Adult Detention Center where he was assigned a $10,000 bond.
Klingler was charged with the following criminal and traffic offenses:
Reckless Endangerment
4 counts of second degree assault
Reckless Driving
Negligent Driving
Driver Eluding Uniformed Police by Failing to Stop
Driver Spinning Wheels
Investigating Officer: Officer Randy Lawson
Officer Preparing Release: Sgt Earl Rocca
Report Number: 12-69789