Prince George’s County, Maryland…The Prince George’s County Police Department’s Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Unit is investigating a fatal accident involving a stolen police cruiser that occurred earlier this morning in Upper Marlboro, Maryland.

    On January 30, 2010 at approximately 2:30 a.m., patrol officers came across debris from a single vehicle traffic accident near Croom Road and Baden Naylor Road.  The officers located an injured male and a disabled 2006 Dodge Charger nearby.  Contact was established with the male and the officers proceeded to check the vehicle for other possible occupants.  During this time, the male jumped into one of the police cruisers and proceeded along Croom Road eventually crashing into a tree near Croom and Mattaponi Road.  The collision caused the cruiser to burst into flames, which fully engulfed the vehicle.

    The patrol officers attempted to extinguish the flames but were unsuccessful.  The Prince George’s County Fire Department responded, extinguished the fire, and pronounced the male dead on scene.  He was transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore for an autopsy.  The male has been identified as Kenneth Ray Taylor, 28, of the 15400 block of Mt. Calvert Road.  Accident investigators are looking into the cause of the original accident.
   
    Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the Prince George’s County Police Department’s Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Unit at (301) 731-4422.  Callers wishing to remain anonymous may call Crime Solvers at 1-866-411 TIPS (8477) or text “PGPD plus your message” to CRIMES (274637) on your cell phone or go to www.pgpolice.org and submit a tip online.