Benedict Bridge shut down Tuesday after crash

Charles County deputy involved

The Patuxent River Bridge in Benedict was shut down in both directions for more than an hour Tuesday after a Waldorf man’s vehicle hydroplaned and collided head on with an unmarked Charles County Sheriff’s Office car.

The Prince Frederick Volunteer Fire Department responded to Hallowing Point Road at the Benedict bridge around 11:38 a.m. Aug. 29 for the report of a crash, according to the fire department. Units arrived to find a two-vehicle accident with one person trapped.

Capt. David Payne of the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office said a Waldorf man’s Toyota hydroplaned and subsequently collided into an unmarked Charles County deputy’s car, leaving the Waldorf man trapped in his vehicle. PFVFD personnel extracted him from the vehicle when they arrived on scene.

Payne confirmed the officer was on duty at the time of the accident.

Both individuals were transported to the hospital via emergency medical services personnel, but Payne said both appeared to be suffering from nonlife threatening injuries. The identifies of those involved are not being released at this time.

A Nixle alert was sent to the public at 11:46 a.m. indicating the Benedict Bridge was shut down in both directions due to an accident. A second Nixle alert distributed at 1 p.m. informed citizens the bridge was reopened.