Baltimore police vehicles crashed 623 times in less than 2 years

Chevall Pryce and Mathew Schumer, The Baltimore Sun on Feb 20, 2026

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BALTIMORE — Baltimore police vehicles were in 623 crashes in the city from January 2024 to August 2025. These accidents cost a total of $1,027,397, with vehicles either being a total loss or repaired for future usage. Several accidents had more than $30,000 in damage.

Department spokesperson Lindsey Eldridge said roughly half of the collisions were deemed nonpreventable and that higher repair costs reflect newer patrol vehicles, supply-chain price increases and the severity of some crashes.

Baltimore Police officers are frequently responding to crimes and driving in areas with limited visibility, increasing their likelihood to crash or violate traffic laws.

“Officers are trained to slow down and or stop, if necessary, ensure intersections are clear, and prioritize public safety,” Eldridge said. “In non-emergency situations, officers are not authorized to disregard traffic laws. If an instance occurs where this may have happened, the department actively reviews the incident to reinforce training, supervision, and accountability, including the payment of any fines or fees when appropriate.”

A concern about distraction

Jeffrey P. Michael, a Johns Hopkins University distinguished scholar with the Department of Health Policy and Management, said policing inherently increases crash risk because officers spend far more time driving and must multitask while monitoring calls, radios and onboard computers.

“I think distraction, in particular, is a big problem with officers,” Michael said. “It’s part of the job to be looking for things. They’re patrolling from their car, so they’re doing more than driving. They’ve also got electronic devices in their car, they’ve got radios, laptops and so forth.”

Michael said police pursuits of suspects also increase the chances of car accidents. Baltimore Police Department has a policy concerning pursuits, advising officers to pursue a suspect if they pose a danger to the community, such as brandishing a weapon.

The policy states that officers are permitted to speed and run red lights while in pursuit if it does not “endanger life or property.”

“Like other high-density cities, we continue to train our officers to prioritize safety and avoid crashes, while addressing risk factors which contribute to collisions,” Eldridge said. “There are times when accidents involving our members are preventable and times when they are not.”

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