DWI HIT PARADE: Marc Alexander Killed and Four Police Officers Injured When DUI Driver Slammed into Crash Scene of another DUI Driver
LARGO, MD – Maryland State Police spokesman Greg Shipley reports that it was a double trouble DUI event in Largo, Md., that resulted in the death of an Upper Marlboro resident.
While on the scene of a crash at 12:32 am on March 18, 2020, involving a suspected impaired driver, a driver involved in the first crash was killed and four police officers were injured when struck by a vehicle driven by a second possibly impaired driver.
The deceased victim is identified as Marc Alexander, 60, of Upper Marlboro, Md. He was pronounced deceased at MedStar Washington Hospital Center.
The injured trooper is identified as Trooper Brandon White, of the Forestville Barrack. The three injured Prince George’s Police Department officers are each from District 2. Their identities have not yet been released by their department. The trooper and all three officers were transported by ambulance to the University of Maryland Prince George’s Hospital Center where they are receiving treatment for their injuries.
Shortly before 10:00 p.m. March 17, 2020, Trooper White was on patrol in his marked vehicle when he was dispatched to a reported crash on southbound Rt. 202 at Campus Way South, in Largo. The three Prince George’s County officers also responded to assist.
The preliminary investigation at that scene indicated a 2002 Chevrolet Impala driven by Victoria Elizabeth Cross, 59, (DOB 02/1961) of 182 Bobcat Court, Lothian, Md., was southbound in lane two of Rt. 202 when it struck the rear of a 2006 Honda Ridgeline, driven by Marc Alexander. During the investigation, Cross was exhibiting signs of impairment and the police officers at the scene were about to begin roadside field sobriety tests.
The force of the crash caused the patrol car to rotate and it struck the three county police officers, who were standing at the rear of the Chevrolet Impala involved in the first crash.
According to the preliminary investigation, at about 10:10 p.m., Maryland State Police Trooper White was seated in his patrol car positioned behind the crash scene with his emergency lights activated, when a southbound 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix struck the rear of his car. The force of the crash caused the patrol car to rotate and it struck the three county police officers, who were standing at the rear of the Chevrolet Impala involved in the first crash.
The Pontiac Grand Prix continued on, sideswiping the Honda Ridgeline and striking Marc Alexander, who was standing outside his truck. The Pontiac stopped and the driver was identified as Iretha Anzella Spriggs, 38, (DOB 10/20/1981) of 1204 Clovis Ave., Capitol Heights, Md.
Additional troopers and county police officers responded to the scene. Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department personnel responded to treat and transport the injured. Maryland State Police helicopter Trooper 2 was called to transport Marc Alexander to MedStar Washington Hospital Center.
Spriggs was transported by ambulance to MedStar.
Troopers found suspected marijuana in plain view in Spriggs’ vehicle. Troopers observed signs of possible impairment involving Spriggs and are continuing their investigation into that potential.
Iretha Anzella Spriggs has a history of driving while impaired.
A Prince George’s County Police Officer arrested Spriggs on Dec. 11, 2009, at 2:32 am for DWI as she drove on Walker Mill Road in a 1999 Buick. Not happy with a verdict of PBJ after she entered a guilty plea on July 30, 2010, on April 13, 2010, Spriggs appealed to the Circuit Court of Prince George’s County, Md., and with attorney Arthur M Reynolds Jr., representing her, arranged a plea deal with Prince Georges County States Attorney Angela Alsobrooks which resulted in DWI charges ending with a verdict of Probation Before Judgement.
No charges have been filed against Spriggs at this time in connection with the second crash that resulted in the fatality and the four police officers being injured. That investigation, led by the Maryland State Police Crash Team, is continuing.
Upon completion, troopers will present their investigation to the Prince George’s County State’s Attorney’s Office for review and consultation regarding additional charges which could include manslaughter by motor vehicle.
Troopers have charged the driver involved in the first crash.
Victoria Cross was charged with driving under the influence, driving while impaired, reckless driving and negligent driving. Cross was later released to a sober driver.