Girl killed after fleeing unmarked police vehicle in Howard County

A minor died following a collision involving a police officer in Howard County on Saturday, Jan 17, officials said.

The crash occurred as an officer with the Howard County Police Department, driving an unmarked vehicle, was conducting traffic enforcement on Rt. 29, Columbia Pike near Johns Hopkins Road, according to the office of Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown. 

The involved officer has been identified as Officer First Class Brian Maurantonio, a 4-year veteran who is assigned to the department's Traffic Enforcement Section, the AG's office said.

The minor, a female, will not be identified due to juvenile privacy laws, officials said. 

Deadly police-involved crash

At 1:50 a.m., the officer began pursuing a Honda sedan that he said was speeding, according to department officials.

As the Honda exited on eastbound Rt.32 Patuxent Freeway, the officer caught up to it and turned their police sirens on to initiate a traffic stop. However, the driver of the Honda refused to pull over, officials said.

Instead, the Honda took the exit ramp from Rt. 32 onto Broken Land Parkway, where it immediately crashed into a wooded area, according to police.

The car caught fire shortly after, according to officials. 

Driver pronounced dead

Officers attempted to put the fire out until members of the Howard County Fire and Rescue Services arrived.

The juvenile driver of the Honda was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Independent Investigations Division (IID) of the Maryland Office of the Attorney General, along with the Maryland State Police Crash Team, is investigating the incident. 

Police also said the officer involved was equipped with a body-worn camera.