By Mark F. Gray, Staff Writer, mgray@afro.com 

On a weekend after a Prince George’s County grand jury formally indicted the driver of a car that killed three children in a hit and run accident on Indian Head Highway, a County police officer was injured when his car was rear ended on the same dangerous roadway while investigating the suicide of a Charles County resource officer.

Prince George’s County Police responded to a call around midnight on Jan. 25 south on Route 210 near Accokeek.  When they arrived on the scene, the officers began their investigation after discovering the body of Corporal Patrick “P.J.” Mann who was pronounced dead after what was considered a suicide attempt.  A Charles County Sheriff’s Office news release later confirmed their autopsy found that Mann died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, just before his car ran off the road. At the time of his death Mann was a resource officer at St. Charles High School in Waldorf.

Route 210, Indian Head Highway, claimed two lives the same weekend a grand jury indicted the driver who killed three children in a hit and run on Dec. 30. (Courtesy Photo)

While investigating Mann’s death, causing roads to close, an officer was hurt when a car hit his cruiser. That officer was taken to the hospital for non-life threatening injuries and was listed in stable condition. The investigation closed lanes in both directions although lanes of Indian Head Highway reopened around 5:30 a.m.

In addition, there was another fatal automobile accident during that weekend. A woman lost her life when her car crossed over a median and crashed into a pickup truck. Prince George’s County Police said the woman was driving southbound on Route 1 when she struck another car traveling in the same direction. She then crossed over the median into the northbound lane and struck a pickup truck.

Route 1 closed on Saturday morning as the investigation continued but reopened around noon after the driver of the vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene. Neither the driver of the car nor the truck driver was injured in the accident.

Meanwhile, Thomas Daniel Hawks, 27, of Charles County, Maryland, is alleged to have been driving drunk after leaving an NFL game in Landover on Dec. 30 and was indicted on three counts of vehicular manslaughter.  Twins Alexander and Rosalie Mejia, and their younger brother Isaac Mejia, were killed when their family’s car was hit from behind while stopped at a traffic light on Route 210 near Wilson Bridge Drive.

Hawks faces three counts of vehicular manslaughter and two counts of causing life-threatening injuries by motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. According to Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy, Hawks registered a 0.17 blood alcohol level (BAC) in a field sobriety test, the limit is .08, and faces a maximum penalty of 36 years jail time if convicted.

Indian Head Highway has become one of the most perilous stretches of road in the state.   For years habitual speeding, drag racing and fatal accidents due to DUI have plagued Rt. 1, which begins off the final exit off I-95/495 near Oxon Hill and extends into Charles County.  Residents in the suburban Maryland community have complained to elected and law enforcement officials about the inherent transportation dangers associated with traveling on that roadway.

At the news conference announcing the grand jury indictment of Hawks, Prince George’s County police Chief Hank Stawinski promised the Department will become more vigilant enforcing traffic laws regularly. He said a DUI police checkpoint along Route 210/Indian Head Highway will begin on February 1.

“Please have those difficult conversations,” Stawinski appealed to the community. “Driving while intoxicated to any degree must stop.”