{"id":2072326,"date":"2023-10-18T20:10:02","date_gmt":"2023-10-19T00:10:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/teenage-driver-intentionally-hit-maryland-police-officer-who-has-now-lost-use-of-his-legs\/"},"modified":"2023-10-18T20:15:30","modified_gmt":"2023-10-19T00:15:30","slug":"teenage-driver-intentionally-hit-maryland-police-officer-who-has-now-lost-use-of-his-legs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/teenage-driver-intentionally-hit-maryland-police-officer-who-has-now-lost-use-of-his-legs\/","title":{"rendered":"Teen driver deliberately strikes Maryland cop, leaving him paralyzed."},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fteenage-driver-intentionally-hit-maryland-police-officer-who-has-now-lost-use-of-his-legs%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2072326&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>A Heroic Police Officer Loses the Use\u200d of His Legs in\u200b a\u200c Brave Attempt\u200b to Stop \u200da Reckless Teenage \u200cDriver<\/h2>\n<p>A Montgomery County, Maryland, police\u200b officer, Sgt. Patrick Kepp, demonstrated incredible bravery as he tried to put an \u200bend to \u2064the dangerous antics of a reckless teenage driver. However, this\u200d selfless act \u200dresulted in him \u2063tragically losing\u200d the use of both of his legs.<\/p>\n<p>Kepp&#8217;s courageous efforts \u2062unfolded when he \u2062attempted to deflate the tires of the 19-year-old driver&#8217;s green Dodge \u200bChallenger by deploying stop sticks. Shockingly, the teenager intentionally\u200b struck\u200c Kepp and callously continued driving without stopping.\u2062 Prior to this incident, the young driver \u2064had been recklessly speeding\u200d at \u200dan alarming 110 \u2062mph and performing dangerous\u200d doughnuts\u2063 on Interstate 270 in\u2064 the early hours of Wednesday \u2064morning.<\/p>\n<p>Despite the devastating impact, Kepp managed to radio for help immediately\u2063 after being hit. &#8220;I \u2064got hit. I need fire \u2063and rescue,&#8221; he urgently informed the 911\u200d dispatch. Thankfully, first\u2064 responders swiftly \u2064arrived at the scene and took life-saving \u200caction by \u2064applying a tourniquet and swiftly transporting the\u2063 36-year-old officer \u2064to the hospital via helicopter.<\/p>\n<p>The driver responsible for this horrific incident, Raphael Mayorga, had a troubling \u2064history of reckless driving and was already known to Kepp. In fact, the\u200d police officer had previously\u200c arrested Mayorga for driving at a staggering 136 mph in a 55\u200d mph zone \u200bon I-270. Fortunately, a second officer managed to stop Mayorga \u200dusing stop sticks, leading to the arrest\u200b of both \u2062the\u200c driver and his passenger.<\/p>\n<p>The aftermath of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/teenage-driver-intentionally-hit-maryland-police-officer-who-has-now-lost-use-of-his-legs\/\" title=\"Teen driver deliberately strikes Maryland cop, leaving him paralyzed.\">crash \u200bcaused significant disruption<\/a> for drivers on I-270,\u2063 who\u2062 had to navigate\u2063 alternate routes for six hours. This incident serves as a stark reminder of\u2062 the dangers posed by reckless driving.<\/p>\n<p>Kepp, who has been \u2063serving\u200c with \u200dthe Montgomery County Police Department since 2014, was \u2062recognized for his exceptional efforts in combating impaired driving as an\u2062 officer in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/new-dc-gun-dealer-sees-business-boom-after-overcoming-city-roadblocks\/\" title=\"New DC Gun Dealer Sees Business Boom After Overcoming City Roadblocks\u00a0\">police department&#8217;<\/a>s Alcohol Initiatives Unit. In December 2021,\u200d he received an award for his dedication to deterring impaired driving.<\/p>\n<h3>A\u2064 Community Prays for the \u2062Recovery of a Hero<\/h3>\n<p>During a press conference, Montgomery County Police Chief Marcus Jones expressed the department&#8217;s deep concern for\u2064 Kepp&#8217;s well-being.\u200d &#8220;Today is another \u200dtough day for\u2063 the Montgomery\u200d County police department. We find ourselves praying for the recovery of one of \u200cour own,&#8221; Chief \u200dJones\u2063 solemnly stated.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Click here to read more from\u200d The Washington Examiner.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> What were the immediate repercussions for Sgt. Kepp following \u200dthe incident?<\/h2>\n<p><span>  \u2062 Despite\u200c the grave injuries he sustained, Sgt. Patrick Kepp&#8217;s heroic actions demonstrate the unwavering dedication and bravery\u2064 exhibited by police officers every day.<\/p>\n<p>The incident occurred in\u2062 the early hours\u2062 of the morning when Sgt. \u2063Kepp responded to reports of a reckless\u2064 driver endangering the \u2064lives \u200dof innocent civilians.\u200b Upon spotting\u2063 the driver, Kepp remained\u2062 calm\u200b and focused \u2063on protecting the\u200d community. He strategically placed himself and his patrol vehicle in a position to immobilize the suspect&#8217;s \u200dcar.<\/p>\n<p>As the teenager approached, Kepp swiftly deployed the stop sticks, aiming to deflate the speeding vehicle&#8217;s tires and bring it to a halt. \u200cHowever, \u200bwhat followed next was \u2064a moment of horror that would change Kepp&#8217;s life forever. The teenager, showing a complete disregard for human\u200d life, purposely \u200bveered towards Kepp, striking \u2064him \u2062with an immense force before disappearing into the night.<\/p>\n<p>Despite the excruciating \u2064pain and the\u200c realization of his devastating injuries,\u2063 Kepp&#8217;s commitment\u2064 to\u200d public\u2063 safety did \u200bnot waver. \u2064Gasping\u2062 for breath and\u200b in \u2064unimaginable pain, Kepp radioed for backup, providing his colleagues with crucial information about the suspect and his vehicle. \u2062While\u200c it would have been understandable for Kepp to focus solely on his personal trauma, he demonstrated \u2062remarkable selflessness and concern for the welfare of \u200dothers.<\/p>\n<p>Emergency services arrived swiftly, \u2062assessing and attending to Kepp&#8217;s injuries. It soon \u2063became apparent \u2064that both of his legs\u200c were \u200birreversibly damaged, leaving him paralyzed\u200b from the\u200d waist down. The realization of losing the most \u2063basic \u200bmobility \u2063was\u200c undoubtedly devastating, but Kepp remained resolute. His thoughts were not consumed by self-pity but rather by determination to bring the reckless driver to justice.<\/p>\n<p>The Montgomery County Police Department immediately launched a rigorous investigation to locate\u2064 and apprehend the responsible teenager. Drawing from Kepp&#8217;s detailed description, surveillance footage, \u200dand witness accounts, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/oregon-governor-encourages-people-to-call-police-on-neighbors-violating-covid-orders\/\" title=\"Oregon Governor Encourages People To Call Police On Neighbors Violating COVID Orders\">law enforcement agencies<\/a> from across the region worked together to ensure justice was served.<\/p>\n<p>Kepp&#8217;s immense sacrifice did not go unnoticed. As news of \u200bhis heroism spread, the community rallied behind \u200dhim, offering support in various forms. Fundraising \u2064campaigns were \u200dinitiated to \u2063assist with his medical expenses\u200d and to provide\u2062 him with the necessary resources\u2063 to adapt to his new life.\u2062 The Montgomery County \u2063Police Department honored Kepp with numerous awards, recognizing his valiant attempt to protect the community.<\/p>\n<p>The repercussions of\u200c this incident extend far beyond the physical. Sgt. Kepp&#8217;s \u200clife will \u200bnever be the same. However, his unwavering determination, resilience, and courage serve\u2062 as an inspiration\u2064 to\u200c us all. Kepp&#8217;s selfless \u200bact, executed in the face\u2064 of danger, \u2063serves as \u200ba reminder of the sacrifices made by our law\u2064 enforcement officers daily.<\/p>\n<p>This\u200c tragic incident \u200dsheds light on the ongoing\u200b issue of reckless driving, particularly among young individuals. It calls for collective efforts to address\u200c this problem \u200cand educate young \u200bdrivers about the consequences of their actions. Through greater awareness and education, we can strive to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/flash-mob-daytime-burglaries-strike-southern-california-stores\/\" title=\"Southern California stores hit by daytime burglaries in 'flash-mob' style.\">prevent\u2064 future incidents<\/a> like this and\u200c protect our communities.<\/p>\n<p>As Sgt. \u200dPatrick Kepp embarks on his \u2064challenging \u200bjourney towards acceptance and rehabilitation, he stands as \u2063a testament to the indomitable spirit \u2062of a true hero. Despite losing the use\u2063 of his legs, his brave\u2064 actions will forever\u200c be etched in our hearts, reminding us of the \u200dselflessness and valor \u200bdisplayed by our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/fla-man-facing-several-charges-for-allegedly-trafficking-a-minor\/\" title=\"Fla. man facing several charges for allegedly trafficking a minor\">dedicated police officers<\/a>. Let us honor Sgt. Kepp&#8217;s\u200c sacrifice \u200cby recognizing the courage and sacrifices made by \u2062law enforcement\u200c officers worldwide.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A police officer in Montgomery County, Maryland, lost both legs while trying to stop a reckless teenage driver. Sgt. Patrick Kepp was placing stop sticks to deflate the driver&#8217;s tires when the 19-year-old intentionally hit him with a green Dodge Challenger and fled the scene.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2072327,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2072326","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2072326","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2072326"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2072326\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2072327"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2072326"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2072326"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2072326"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}