Yesterday morning, tragedy struck in the 6400 block of Dobbin Road as a Howard County Police Department officer was involved in a fatal collision with a pedestrian in Columbia. This pedestrian, a 93-year-old woman, was walking in the travel portion of the parking lot at Dobbin Center when an unmarked 2019 GMC Acadia, operated by an off-duty, yet on-duty, non-uniformed officer, hit her. She was quickly transported to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center, only to be pronounced dead later, as per official statements released by the Howard County, Maryland.
The devastating incident unfolded around 6:45 a.m., sparking an investigation by the Howard County police. Investigators are inclined to believe that speed did not, to their preliminary knowledge, play a role in the incident. In a routine procedure following such incidents, the officer involved has been placed on standard administrative leave.
The Technical Support Section officer's identity has yet to be disclosed as the inquiry continues to thoroughly and transparently understand what transpired to cause such a grim outcome. In the wake of the collision, Howard County police have assured the public and the victim's family that more information will be released as it becomes available.
