A man reported to be an Iraq War veteran is behind bars in Prince George's County for allegedly leading police on a high-speed pursuit on the Beltway, from Prince George's County to Baltimore.
The driving was crazy enough to prompt witnesses to make frantic calls to police Saturday morning.
"If you use the term 'aggressive driver,' this would be it at its absolute worst," said Lt. C.D. Miller of Maryland State Police.
Christopher Murphy, 30, weaved between cars for about 30 miles before he slammed his car into the side of a Maryland State Police cruiser on I-495, according to authorities. That cruiser spun out of control and hit another cruiser. The wreck put two troopers and another driver in the hospital. All three were back home recovering by Monday night.
Murphy is facing more obvious charges for traffic violations, but also attempted murder. Police say he was intentionally trying to harm people on the road.
Murphy, a native of Horsham, Pa., has served two tours in Iraq and suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, according to the Press of Atlantic City paper. In one article, he's quoted as saying he was having trouble re-adjusting to civilian life. The Prince George's County State's Attorney office, which is handling the charges against Murphy, has given no indication that the his status as a war veteran will have any impact on the charges.
