MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (ABC7) – Two off-duty law enforcement officers were killed and three other people were hospitalized in a crash Friday night in Montgomery County, according to authorities.
Maryland State Police identified one of the officers as Sander Cohen, a Deputy Chief with the Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office as well as a Lieutenant with the Rockville Volunteer Fire Department. The other victim was FBI Supervisory Special Agent Carlos Wolff, according to authorities.
Colonel William Pallozzi held a briefing Saturday on the crash at 10 a.m.
Maryland State Police say that Cohen called into the Rockville Barrack at around 10 p.m. saying that he was on the scene of an apparent single-vehicle crash north of Gude Drive in the fast lane of southbound I-270.
Cohen had asked for help and then blocked off the crash site with his personal vehicle and activated his emergency flashers, officials say.
Wolff was the driver of the damaged vehicle and police say both men had moved from their vehicles and were standing in the shoulder. That is when another car drove by and looked like it was trying to avoid the two vehicles by driving in the shoulder, authorities say.
The car hit Wolff and Cohen, sending them both over the jersey wall to the other side of I-270 where Cohen was hit by another vehicle, officials say.
One of the officers was pronounced dead at the scene while the other was declared dead after being taken to Suburban Hospital, officials say.
The driver of the second car that hit Cohen was not injured. All vehicles involved stayed at the scene, officials say.
The driver and two passengers of the striking vehicle were all taken to hospitals with non-life threatening injuries.
The crash remains under investigation but police say alcohol does not appear to be a factor.
No charges have been filed at this time.
On Saturday night, a procession was held for Cohen.
Procession for Fire Marshal killed last night along w/ @FBI agent in crash in Montgomery County, MD. Sad to see this. Video via @KellyRuleTV pic.twitter.com/lgOaJot8Cg
– T.J. Smith (@TJSmithMedia) December 10, 2017
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