Procession was for police officer's father

another why to should how anne arudnel county police do what they want. they think they can do what every they want without the public's critism because we do not know how hard their job is. that is crap. i did it in a lot bigger city than baltimore and have never observed such blatant disregard for the public welfare as anne arundel county police. from not shooting attacking dogs to vidoe taping women's breast. where is the supervisor. i guess they just sit in the office.

its the truck drivers fault it dose not matter what traffic is stoped for you need to pay attention to what you are doing charges need to be filed

If you need to shut down 3 lanes of highway to safety merge 12-15 cars what gives, I bet A.A police will have some new training classes on how to shut down a freeway...safely.

jim wrote:

its the truck drivers fault it dose not matter what traffic is stoped for you need to pay attention to what you are doing charges need to be filed

Jimmy let’s not be so haste to lay blame on the trucker, the police will have to prove first that they closed the highway correctly and had the right amount of man power to do so, also if better route options exist then to close down a major hwy then we as the public have a right to question those decisions. If the trucker was reckless then that will play out but try not to overlook the big picture, 2 people died due to lanes abruptly closed on a hwy and just maybe just maybe appropriate care was not given to ensure safety. I am not sure you need to close 3 lanes of highway traffic for 12 to 15 cars to safely merge onto 97. Have you ever tried to stop or slow down a loaded semi truck they do not stop on a dime I am sure you will find out after the investigation that something was an outside cause as to why this trucker did not have enough time to stop….If just happy-go-lucky plowed into stopped cars then he will pay for those action. Sliverman stated that his department has done this kind of operation 150 times last year, what kind of training or re-training is done on a yearly basis. Even if it is shown to have been done correctly when people die, it’s good time to reevaluate procedures.

First, off it is the duty of the truck driver to allow enough room to stop his vehicle - as it is for all drivers, whether they are driving a TT or moped.

Secondly, this is why all funeral processions should be outlawed. Whats the hurry to get to the cemetary? There are numerous accidents and near accidents because processions disregard lights etc.

There is no reason why folks can't just meet at the cemetary.

Another blatant error in judgment by the powers in AA County. Heads should roll. What kind of moron closes an interstate highway for a funeral? I mean just think about it. I thank God I don't live there and rarely need to cross the border into that county.

The cops that blocked that highway should be charged with negligient homicide.

...agreed that maybe the procession concept needs to be rethought. Today's traffic is hazardous period. Slowing or completely stopping traffic just creates another hazard. With all respect to families involved just meeting at the cemetary is probably safer for everyone.

Regardless of the outcome of the events. At 1130 am, on the friday of memorial day weekend and closing down interstate 97 (the main route to the Bay Bridge and ultimately Ocean City) the officers should have used better judgement and payed closer attention to the totality of circumstances. On this day, in particular, at no point in time should 97 be closed unless it is due to public saftey concerns.

Changes will come out of this incident.

Based on the 'logic' of some of the posters here, one need not ever maintain control of their vehicle and can drive anyway they please. Why stop because there is not enough room. Full speed ahead

I think there are really more than one thing that caused this. The truck driver is DEFINITELY partly at fault for not paying attention to the traffic in front of him no matter which way you look at it. But...did they need to close 3 lanes?!?!? This is a major highway...not some rural two lane.

people don't realize that funeral procsssion are to be respected. But don't slows down any more or even stop for the police I wish they would start inforce the law because there are laws agaist brakeing funeral or not stop for flashing police lights. Don't blame the police for trying to doing there job.

kst wrote:

people don't realize that funeral procsssion are to be respected. But don't slows down any more or even stop for the police I wish they would start inforce the law because there are laws agaist brakeing funeral or not stop for flashing police lights. Don't blame the police for trying to doing there job.

Blame most certainly will land on the police. To shut down hwy 97 on a holiday weekend, to escort 12-15 cars with taxpayer funds all for an father of a cop,,, are you being flippant,,,How is this even happening ,,,I cant wait to read the report about all this,,, they will sweep it up and cover it under the rug, just like the accident on the bay bridge last year when the driver of a Cadillac didn’t have a 50 cent cotter pin in his home made trailer.

why not shut the whole beltway down and give a last hurra-ride through the tunnel, and blast a dukes of hazzard horn the whole time.

I live in AA County and I see it all of the time. Police cars flying up the road at speed in excess of 80-90 mph and they are NOT going to a call so why should this be any different?? I know for a fact that there was no notice given to the public that they were shutting down a majoe interstate for a funeral procession. I also know for a fact that what should have been done was to inform the state highwqay admin. and have them out there with trucks in the right lane prior to the exit and have the yellow blinking arrows pointing to the left to let everyone know to begim to merge to the left lanes. Maybe if this was done we wouldn't have to be having this comment session. But for some of you it os just easy enough to lay all blame on the truck driver. YOu also are probaly the ones who cut off the trucke drivers and then slam on your brakes in front of them and say "oh well , they should be able to stop for me". PLEASE!!

who do you blame when whan traffic is stoped for no apperent reason witch it some times dose ? you can be doing 55 then all of the sudden cars are stoped . dont blame the police when a careless driver is not paying attention to his driveing . i always look in my mirrow to see who is in back of me

MD Taxpayer wrote:

The cops that blocked that highway should be charged with negligient homicide.

I agree with you because it was there actions of shutting down the highway that caused the accident properly or not. If a civilian causes an accident that kills someone they a charged even though they didn't mean to but there actions need to be addressed.

jim wrote:

First, off it is the duty of the truck driver to allow enough room to stop his vehicle - as it is for all drivers, whether they are driving a TT or moped.
Secondly, this is why all funeral processions should be outlawed. Whats the hurry to get to the cemetary? There are numerous accidents and near accidents because processions disregard lights etc.
There is no reason why folks can't just meet at the cemetary.

1. A funeral procession has right of way if the hurst has past through the light. Read your drivers Manuel from DMV.
2.I am sure that you have been in a funeral procession before or maybe you just met the procession at the cemetary. Have some Patients and Respect.

Just heard on the news that a mother and her baby died in the accident. Police are suppose to serve and protect. This action on their part was irresponsible and contributed to causing the accident. Closing a major highway on the Friday proceeding a major travel holiday is negligent. Instead of closing major highways they should be taking care of the rampant crime that is plaguing Anne Arundel County.

why is every one so fast to blame the police? how is it their fault ? Pepole have to stop all the time on 2 lane roads to make a left hand tun witch stops traffic, when some is rear ended do we charge the person coming the other way for the accident? put the blame were it belongs on the truck driver