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Julie Elizabeth Clark

Age : 26

Gender : Female

Race : White

Date : 12/31/2022

Location : Interstate 95 North, Exit 109A / Maryland Route 279

City : Elkton

County : Cecil

State : Maryland

Agency : Maryland State Police

Officer(s) :Trooper First Class Kurtis Manuel

Cause of Death : Vehicle

Event : Driver killed by police chase crash

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

REASON FOR CHASE:
Erratic driving.
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NARRATIVE:
On 12/31/2022, 26-year-old Julie Elizabeth Clark of Tenafly, New Jersey, was killed when her Honda Odyssey crashed during a Maryland State Police pursuit on Interstate 95 in Cecil County, Maryland.
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Beginning at approximately 11:31 a.m., Maryland State Police received several 911 calls concerning the minivan. Callers described erratic driving, swerving between lanes and driving on the shoulder. At approximately 12:14 p.m., Manuel saw Clark's minivan pass his location on the right shoulder and pulled onto I-95 behind her. He activated his emergency lights and siren and pursued her northbound.
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The official investigation reconstructed the pursuit in considerable detail. Manuel's recorded speed increased from 84 mph to 98 mph shortly after the pursuit began. During subsequent portions of the pursuit, his patrol vehicle reached 108 mph, 114 mph and ultimately 125 mph. Clark's minivan was at times traveling approximately 100 to 110 mph. Weather conditions were rainy and foggy and traffic was described as moderate.
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At approximately 12:22 p.m., Clark moved across the highway toward Exit 109A for Maryland Route 279. Manuel followed. At 12:22:59 p.m., while Manuel's patrol vehicle was traveling approximately 103 mph, Clark lost control on the exit ramp and crashed into trees. Her vehicle caught fire. She was pronounced dead at the scene. She was the only person in the minivan and no other vehicles were involved in the collision.
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The Maryland Attorney General's Independent Investigations Division calculated that approximately nine minutes and 14 miles elapsed from the time Manuel first saw Clark's minivan and pulled behind it until the fatal crash.
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The Independent Investigations Division completed its investigation on 04/27/2023 and forwarded its report to the Cecil County State's Attorney's Office. On 05/04/2023, the State's Attorney's Office declined to prosecute Manuel.
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OFFICER BACKGROUND:
Trooper First Class Kurtis Manuel was a 5.5-year Maryland State Police veteran assigned to the Field Operations Bureau at the time of Clark's death. The Cecil County State's Attorney's Office declined criminal prosecution following the independent investigation.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://oag.maryland.gov/resources-info/Documents/pdfs/IID/123122_IID_Report.pdf
https://www.marylandattorneygeneral.gov/press/2023/010223.pdf
https://www.marylandattorneygeneral.gov/press/2023/011823.pdf
https://www.wmar2news.com/news/local-news/video-shows-deadly-high-speed-police-chase-in-cecil-county-on-new-years-eve
https://www.wmar2news.com/local/maryland-state-trooper-wont-be-charged-for-deadly-high-speed-chase-on-new-years-eve