Trooper Shoots, Kills Suspected Drunk Driver On I-95: Police

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — Interstate 95 north in Howard County was closed for hours Friday morning due to a traffic stop that turned deadly, police said. A man who was suspected of driving while intoxicated was killed and an officer was injured, according to Maryland State Police.

Police said a trooper pulled over a suspected drunk driver in a red Ford Escape around 2 a.m. and called for backup to conduct a field sobriety test on I-95 north near MD 100. The SUV had been weaving across the lanes, according to authorities.

As the two troopers spoke with the driver, he put the car in drive, not responding to an order to get out of his vehicle, police said. One trooper reached in to try to take the key out of the ignition and was dragged 2,000 feet as he continued ordering the driver to stop, authorities reported.

Afraid for his life, the trooper shot the driver, then was flung into a median, according to officials.

Julio Cesar Moran-Ruiz, 36, of Baltimore was pronounced deceased at the scene, police said.

The trooper, a three-year Maryland State Police veteran, was taken to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center.

Police said a machete was found under the driver's seat, and bottles of alcohol were also located inside the vehicle. The driver did not have identification on him, officials said.

I-95 north was closed at MD 100 for the investigation, with traffic detoured between the Route 100 exit and the Baltimore County line. All lanes had reopened around 9 a.m., and officials said delays were clearing.

See the latest lane closure information from state transportation officials.