The Prince George’s County Police Department continues to investigate the collision that killed Police Officer First Class Brennan Rabain on March 7, 2015. Investigators have now determined several possible factors that may have contributed to the crash. They’ve also received final autopsy results from Maryland’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
After informing POFC Rabain’s parents and the PGPD family this afternoon, we’re now releasing to our community pertinent details regarding this collision. While the reconstruction report is not complete, we do know at one point POFC Rabain reached a speed of 106 miles per hour as he attempted to conduct a traffic stop that morning. When he lost control on Greenbelt Road, he was going 64 miles an hour and at the time of impact, the cruiser was travelling 50 miles per hour. Additionally, results of the toxicology report reveal POFC Rabain’s blood alcohol concentration was .07. Under Maryland law, a BAC of .07 could lead to a charge of driving while impaired. Based on traffic camera video, POFC Rabain’s interaction with another police agency moments before the crash, witness testimony, and evidence at the crash scene, there is no indication that alcohol is the primary cause of this crash.
The in-car police radio reveals the officer changed the channel at 3:19 am to the local police district in which he was driving. Investigators believe he did this to call in the pending traffic stop, but that never happened. The first 911 call reporting the accident came in at 3:21 am.
“I do not condone POFC Rabain’s decision to drive after consuming any amount of alcohol. While we will never know precisely what role alcohol played in this crash, the outcome is tragic. The excessive speed can not be ignored either. But we do know that in the final moments of his life, this young officer was committed to protecting the people of Prince George’s County,” said Chief Mark Magaw.
In 2012, our department launched an officer driving safety campaign called “Arrive Alive” after two of our officers died on county roadways within a two-month period. Every week, the department publishes an internal driver safety message that’s sent to all PGPD personnel and is also posted in roll call rooms. The message also goes out over our radio system six times a day.
As the investigation into this fatal collision continues, this department’s top priority remains supporting POFC Rabain’s grieving family and squad who lost a son, brother, father and friend.
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