20060919 KDDC Updated Carroll County Sheriffs Deputy involved in fatal accident

Updated: Carroll County Sheriffs Deputy involved in fatal accident

Updated 6:20 AM September 20th, 2006

More information has come in on an earlier KDDC post: “Bicyclist killed in late night accident on Rte 140 in Westminster.”

A dark stretch of eastbound Rte 140 between the Rte 27 overpass and Center St. in Westminster was the scene of a fatal accident involving a bicyclist and a Carroll County Sheriff’s Deputy late Tuesday evening.

The accident was first dispatched at 10:40 PM and Westminster, Pleasant Valley and Reese Fire Departments responded.

According to news release received at 6:17 AM from the Carroll County Sheriff’s Department, “Bicyclist struck by deputy’s patrol car:” “Corporal Carlos Bustos, a five-year veteran of the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office was patrolling Eastbound Route 140 East of the Route 27 overpass when his patrol car collided with a bicyclist. According to witness statements, the bicyclist was crossing the darkened section of highway from the Town Mall when he was struck. The bicyclist, identified as Mario Garcia Salgado aged 25 of Westminster, was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics from the Westminster Fire Company.”

There is a number of street lights out in this dangerous stretch of highway and the fire companies stayed on scene for hours to illuminate the area as the accident reconstruction team from the Maryland State Police conducted a joint investigation of the accident with the Westminster Police Department.

Police agencies from Westminster Police Department, the Maryland State Police and the Sheriff’s Department remained at the accident for several hours.

The news release stated that “Corporal Bustos was transported to Carroll Hospital Center where he was treated for lacerations to his left arm and hand. Investigators from the Westminster Police Department, assisted by Maryland State Police CRASH Team Investigators are conducting a detailed investigation of the accident. Captain Randy Barnes, Patrol Commander for the Westminster Police Department advised completion of the accident investigation and reconstruction could take several weeks.”

For more information contact Lieutenant Phil Kasten at (410) 386-2759.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA. E-mail him at: kdayhoff@carr.org www.thetentacle.com Westminster Eagle Opinion and Winchester Report www.thewestminstereagle.com www.kevindayhoff.com