A Queen Anne's County woman has been charged with three traffic violations after her vehicle collided with the patrol car of a Maryland State Police trooper early Wednesday morning, state police said.
Both Bonnie L. Meta, 59, of the 1700 block of Dixon Tavern Road in Barclay, and Senior Trooper John P. Sayles, 43, a 10-year veteran of the force, were injured in the crash, though both had been released from the hospital as of Wednesday afternoon, according to police and Meta's husband.
Police said Meta failed to stop at a stop sign on Route 302 before crossing Route 313 in her hometown about 6 a.m. As she crossed, Sayles, stationed at the Centreville barracks, was heading through the intersection to respond to another crash in the area, police said.
Sayles was in an unmarked police vehicle, but did have lights and sirens activated and had the right of way, police said. Police did not say how fast Sayles was traveling.
When the two vehicles collided, damage was sustained to the rear of the driver's side of Meta's car, and to the front end of Sayles' car.
Meta and Sayles were both transported with injuries to the Chester River Hospital, police said.
Sayles' injuries were not described, but police said he was recovering at home as of Wednesday afternoon. Meta's husband, Joseph Meta, reached at home Wednesday afternoon, said his wife was also at home, recovering from a broken thumb, black eye, headache and general soreness.
Meta has been charged with failure to stop at a stop sign, failure to control speed and negligent driving, police said.
Meta's husband said his wife told him she had stopped at the stop sign, but she drives slowly and may have not realized Sayles was moving quickly to get to the other crash scene.
"It's a small community. There's nothing there in the morning usually," he said.
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