Dimeka Thornton Death – Authorities have disclosed the identities of individuals involved in Monday’s tragic crash on the Beltway, shedding light on the circumstances surrounding the incident. The collision resulted in the death of a woman and left a man hospitalized following a pursuit initiated due to a stolen vehicle.
Maryland’s Attorney General’s Office’s Independent Investigations Division reported that Baltimore County police officers encountered a stolen vehicle in a hotel parking lot on Belmont Avenue in the Windsor Mill area around 12:15 a.m. Monday. Subsequently, an adult male entered the vehicle and fled from the officers, prompting an investigation.
Despite attempts by officers to halt the vehicle, the driver evaded them and proceeded onto the outer loop of the Beltway in the wrong direction from Liberty Road. While officers refrained from pursuing the stolen vehicle onto the highway, it collided with an Acura TSX.
Officers pursued the vehicle until it reached the exit ramp, where they accessed a safer route to approach the crash scene and provide assistance to the parties involved. Tragically, the driver of the Acura, identified as Dimeka Thornton, 37, from Windsor Mill, succumbed to her injuries at the hospital.
The driver of the stolen vehicle sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to a hospital. The attorney general’s office assumed responsibility for the investigation due to police involvement in a fatality, collaborating with the Maryland State Police to reconstruct the pursuit and analyze the accident.
Identified officers involved in the incident include Sgt. Ferguson, Officer Daley, Officer Marrero, Officer Hadel, and Officer Creter, all assigned to the Operations Bureau, with combined service spanning several years.
The incident underscores the tragic consequences of reckless driving and the inherent risks associated with pursuits. Investigators are diligently reviewing body-worn camera footage and gathering witness accounts to piece together the events leading to the collision. Despite the outcome, officials mourn the loss of life and emphasize the gravity of the situation.