Maryland: Aberdeen police officer struck by vehicle Wednesday night released from hospital
An Aberdeen Police Department officer was injured Wednesday night after being hit by a car while investigating a traffic accident, city police said. The officer, who was "alert and conscious" when he was transported to a regional trauma center, according to police, has since been released from the hospital and is recovering at home.
Aberdeen Police Department spokesperson Detective Sgt. Will Reiber identified the injured officer as Cpl. Craig Gentile, who has been with the Aberdeen Police for nine years. Gentile, who is assigned to the traffic unit, was conducting an accident reconstruction in the 700 block of West Bel Air Avenue around 10:45 p.m., Reiber said.
The officer had blocked the eastbound lane of West Bel Air Avenue with his patrol vehicle, activated its lights and was on foot wearing a reflective safety vest, he said. A vehicle traveling south on Beards Hill Road turned left on to West Bel Air Avenue and struck the officer. The driver stopped after hitting him.
Gentile sustained injuries to the head and lower body and was flown to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore by a Maryland State Police Medevac helicopter, police said. The name of the driver of the vehicle that struck the officer has not been released by police, pending an investigation and accident reconstruction, which has been assumed by the Harford County Sheriff's Office Traffic Unit.
"At the completion of their investigation it will be determined if the operator of the striking vehicle will be charged," the police department said in a statement released Thursday afternoon. "It has been determined that drugs and/or alcohol did not play a factor in this incident," the statement added.
Prior to his service in Aberdeen, Gentile retired from the Baltimore City Police Department after 25 years of service, according to APD. "Corporal Gentile is well known for his positive interactions with citizens in the Aberdeen community," the police department statement continued. "Many citizens affectionately refer to him as 'Officer Bunk' when they see him at local IronBirds games, where he is a fixture and known for handing out baseball souvenirs to kids in the stands.
"Corporal Gentile is appreciative for all the well wishes he received following this incident, and looks to return to duty as soon as possible."
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