Maryland State Police Press Release
11/15/2014 12:56

(College Park, MD) – Investigators from the Maryland State Police Criminal Enforcement Division are investigating an attempted suicide after a drunk driver, involved in a car crash, was taken into police custody.

The drunk driver is identified as Lennox Thompson, 31, of the 8000 block of Cory Drive in Bowie, Maryland. Thompson attempted suicide after being arrested for DUI on the scene of a car crash in Prince George’s County. Thompson is currently being treated at University of Maryland Shock Trauma in Baltimore. Charges are pending for the crash, the DUI and for drug possession.

Shortly before midnight last night, a state trooper from the College Park Barrack was dispatched to a crash on the inner loop of I-495 at the Baltimore-Washington Parkway. The preliminary crash investigation indicates Thompson was driving a 2006 Lexus passenger vehicle when he struck the rear of a vehicle traveling in front of him. The crash injured two of the three occupants in that vehicle.

While emergency medical personnel were treating the occupants of the other vehicle, Thompson refused medical treatment. Due to the odor of alcohol, Thompson was asked to perform a standardized field sobriety test. He failed all the sobriety tests and subsequently was placed under arrest for DUI. Thompson was also found in possession of illegal drugs.

At approximately 12:45 a.m. this morning, Thompson was transported to the College Park Barrack and placed in a cell while paperwork was being processed. Thompson’s shoelaces and jacket were taken from him prior to being placed in the cell, where he was checked on periodically by barrack personnel.

Shortly before 5:45 a.m., one of the troopers working on the case, checked on Thompson’s welfare to advise him he would soon be transported to the Office of the Court Commissioner. At 6:00 a.m., the trooper came back to the cell to get Thompson and found him with his sweater tied around his neck, attempting to asphyxiate himself.

The trooper immediately cut the sweater off of him and administered chest compressions to open his airways. Thompson began to cough and was placed in a recovery position. Medics were called immediately and arrived at the barrack to transport Thompson to Washington Adventist Hospital for further treatment.

Thompson is currently being treated at Shock Trauma for his injuries as the investigation continues.