State Trooper Killed in Crash

[Howard Hartman]

	NEWS RELEASE DEPARTMENT OF MARYLAND STATE POLICE HEADQUARTERS: PIKESVILLE, MD 21208 (410)486-3101 TTY For Hearing Impaired (410)486-0677 Toll Free: 1-800-525-5555
	May 21, 2011

State Trooper Killed in Crash

Updated Information

(LAUREL, MD) – An on-duty Maryland state trooper was killed early this morning in a traffic crash on southbound I-95 in Howard County.

The crash occurred about 2:40 a.m. on southbound I-95, south of Rt. 32, near the entrance ramp to the rest area. The trooper was pronounced dead at the scene. Maryland State Police officials continue to notify family members of the fallen trooper.

Maryland State Police Superintendent Colonel Terrence B. Sheridan will provide the trooper’s name and information from the preliminary investigation at a media briefing later this morning. The briefing will be held at 10:00 a.m. today at the Maryland State Police Waterloo Barrack, 7777 Washington Blvd., Jessup, Md. Take I-95 to Rt. 175 east. Rt. 175 east to Rt. 1. Make a left on Rt. 1. Barrack is located on the right.

Due to the crash investigation, all lanes of southbound I-95 have been closed at Rt. 32. State Highway Administration personnel are on the scene and have established detours around the area. The interstate is expected to be closed until about 8:00 a.m. Northbound I-95 is open and traffic is unaffected.

[Howard Hartman]

	NEWS RELEASE DEPARTMENT OF MARYLAND STATE POLICE HEADQUARTERS: PIKESVILLE, MD 21208 (410)486-3101 TTY For Hearing Impaired (410)486-0677 Toll Free: 1-800-525-5555
	May 21, 2011

Update        Update        Update      Update

Maryland State Trooper Killed in Crash is Identified

Updated Information

(LAUREL, MD) – Maryland State Police Superintendent Colonel Terrence B. Sheridan has identified the state trooper killed in the line of duty early this morning in a traffic crash on Interstate 95 in Howard County.

The trooper is identified as Trooper First Class Shaft S. Hunter, 39, an 11-year veteran of the Maryland State Police. TFC Hunter was assigned to road patrol duties at the Waterloo Barrack. He was on-duty, working a night patrol shift on I-95, when the crash occurred.

“TFC Hunter was an outstanding trooper who was known for his dedication to duty,” Colonel Sheridan said. “He died while working to keep our highways safe. He will be greatly missed by his family and his fellow troopers at the Waterloo Barrack and throughout the Maryland State Police. He is the 43rd state trooper to make the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of the people of Maryland. His death comes at the end of National Police Week, when we honor the more than 19,000 police officers nationwide who have given their lives in the line of duty. TFC Hunter has now joined the ranks of these American heroes.”

The crash occurred about 2:40 a.m. today on southbound I-95 at the Laurel rest area, south of Rt. 32. TFC Hunter was pronounced dead at the scene.

The investigation into the crash is ongoing. The preliminary investigation indicates TFC Hunter was southbound on I-95 when he struck a tractor trailer that was parked on the shoulder of the interstate, just before the entrance ramp to the rest area. He was wearing his seat belt when the crash occurred.

A witness told investigators he was passed by a motorcycle that was traveling at a high rate of speed just before being passed by a marked State Police car. Moments later, the witness said the patrol car struck the rear of the tractor trailer.

Based on witness information, TFC Hunter was possibly in pursuit of this speeding motorcycle. He had not radioed in to the barrack about this before the crash occurred, but that is not unusual when a trooper is in the initial moments of an attempted traffic stop. The patrol car struck the rear of the tractor trailer and then traveled down the side of the trailer, coming to rest near the front of the trailer. The tractor trailer driver was not injured in the crash.

The tractor trailer driver is identified as Albert Sandino, 46, of Covina, California. He was driving a 2009 International truck tractor pulling a box trailer loaded with household bleach. The truck was headed from Aberdeen, Maryland to Virginia. The driver told investigators he had pulled to the side of the interstate briefly to check for directions to his destination.

The crash scene required the closure of southbound I-95 until about 8:30 a.m. today. State Highway Administration personnel responded and set up detours around the area.

TFC Hunter was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut. He held a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice from St. Augustine College in Raleigh, North Carolina.

After college, he joined the United States Marine Corps, where he served from 1994 to 2000. He was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps with the rank of captain.

The Maryland State Police recruited TFC Hunter out of the Marine Corps. He entered the State Police Academy on January 3rd, 2000. He was elected president of the 114th Trooper Candidate Class. He gave an address at his academy class graduation in June of 2000.

TFC Hunter’s first assignment was at the Waterloo Barrack. He later worked at the Glen Burnie and Westminster barracks, before returning to the Waterloo Barrack in October of 2010.

TFC Hunter leaves behind six children, ages 4-19. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at this time.

[Howard Hartman]

	NEWS RELEASE DEPARTMENT OF MARYLAND STATE POLICE HEADQUARTERS: PIKESVILLE, MD 21208 (410)486-3101 TTY For Hearing Impaired (410)486-0677 Toll Free: 1-800-525-5555
	May 26, 2011

Update        Update        Update      Update

Scholarship Fund Established For Children Of Tfc Shaft Hunter

(PIKESVILLE, MD) – The family of Trooper First Class Shaft Hunter has announced a scholarship fund to benefit his children has been established in his memory.

Donations should be made payable to:

THE HUNTER CHILDREN’S SCHOLARSHIP FUND

Donations can be made at any M&T Bank in Maryland. Or, they may be mailed to:

M&T Bank
207 Bowie Road
Laurel, MD 20707

All donations will be used to provide for the education of TFC Hunter’s six children. His children range in age from 4-19.

The Hunter family and the members of the Maryland State Police are grateful for the support of citizens across the state that has been shown during this difficult time. The kindness of so many has been deeply appreciated.