A driver died following a fatal crash early Saturday morning. The crash occurred after the driver lost control and while being pursued by a police officer and struck a fence post and tree near the intersection of Randolph Rd and Connecticut Ave.
The Independent Investigations Division of the Office of the Attorney General has identified the decedent and involved officer in the fatal crash that occurred on February 26 in Montgomery County. The single-vehicle crash followed a police pursuit.
The decedent and police officer involved in the pursuit were identified in a release from the Maryland Attorney General’s office:
The decedent, who is a female, has been identified as 26-year-old Noraly Paz Chavez of Riverdale, Maryland.
The involved officer has been identified as Police Officer III Antonio Copeland, a 16.5-year veteran of the Montgomery County Police Department. He is assigned to the Field Services Bureau.
The Independent Investigations Division, with the assistance of the Maryland State Police Crash Team, continues to investigate the circumstances of the fatal pursuit.
The original news release, from Montgomery County Police, below:
At approximately 1:30 a.m. on Saturday, February 26, a Montgomery County Police officer stopped a 2011 Honda Civic near Route 355 and Nicholson Lane after he observed the vehicle commit a traffic violation. An adult male and adult female occupied the Honda Civic.
As the officer approached the vehicle and attempted to initiate contact, the driver sped away. The officer pursued the vehicle eastbound on Randolph Road for suspicion of driving under the influence. The driver lost control near the intersection of Connecticut Avenue, striking a fence post and tree. The officer’s vehicle did not make contact with the Honda Civic and was not involved in the collision.
The male passenger was transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The female driver was pronounced dead on scene.
The Montgomery County Police Collision Reconstruction Unit responded to the location, as well as the Maryland State Police Crash Team and the Maryland Attorney General’s Independent Investigations Division.
Per Maryland law, the investigation has been handed over to the Attorney General’s Independent Investigations Division.
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