A 19-year-old Cambridge man was arrested after leading officers on a high speed chase and triggering a crash that injured six people on the Eastern Shore early Sunday, Maryland State police said.
Armand J. Cornish was charged with attempting to elude an officer on foot and in a vehicle, failing to remain at the scene of an accident and driving with a suspended license, among other offenses, police said.
Troopers pulled over a 1994 Ford Explorer around 4:30 a.m. in St. Michael's after they saw it weaving and crossing the center line, police said. Cornish, the driver, had a strong odor of alcohol on his breath and, when troopers asked him to step out of the car, sped away, police said.
The Ford, traveling at speeds approaching 100 miles per hour, led troopers on a chase along eastbound Route 50 and it appeared that beer cans were thrown from the car, according to police.
The car than struck a 2004 Ford Mustang, injuring the driver, Martin Portillo-Coreas, 33, of Laurel, and passengers Ricardo Lopez, 23, and Enrique Ayala, 20, both of Washington. Ayala was trapped in the back seat and appears to have suffered critical injuries, police said.
Police said Cornish and his passengers, Joseph L. Johnson, 22, and Keandre L. Dawson, 17, both of Cambridge, ran away from the accident, but were arrested by troopers. All were treated and released for injuries suffered in the crash, police said.
Troopers were continuing to investigate the incident and said more charges were possible.
Route 50 was closed in both directions for about four hours due to the crash.