Wrong-Way Driver Collides with State Trooper on Route 13 in Wicomico County

SALISBURY, MD – A Cambridge man is facing multiple charges after allegedly driving the wrong way on U.S. Route 13 for several miles before crashing into a Maryland State Police vehicle and another car on Saturday night. The incident, which unfolded shortly before 7:30 p.m., resulted in injuries to a state trooper and two civilians, according to information released by the Maryland Department of State Police.

The driver, identified as 36-year-old Joshua Jorette of Cambridge, was apprehended at the scene. He has been charged with driving under the influence, reckless driving, and possession of a controlled dangerous substance, among other related offenses. Jorette is currently being held at the Wicomico County Detention Center. The Maryland State Trooper involved in the collision, assigned to the Salisbury Barrack, was taken to a local hospital for treatment of injuries sustained during the incident and has since been released. Additionally, the occupants of a Ford Expedition struck during the crash, a 66-year-old male and a 64-year-old female, were transported by ambulance to a local medical facility.

Prior to the collision, Maryland State Police received numerous reports regarding a Ford F-250 pickup truck traveling northbound in the southbound lanes of the Salisbury Bypass, also known as U.S. Route 13. A trooper in the vicinity of the Johnson Road overpass located the vehicle and attempted to initiate a traffic stop. However, the pickup truck continued to travel in the wrong direction, narrowly missing the trooper’s patrol vehicle. The trooper pursued the vehicle, making a second attempt to pull it over, but the pickup truck continued to flee north.

Responding to the escalating danger, a second trooper observed multiple vehicles pulled over on the shoulder just north of the fleeing pickup truck’s location, near the intersection of U.S. Route 13 and Route 50. Recognizing the significant risk to the motorists and any potential pedestrians in the area, the second trooper strategically positioned his patrol vehicle directly in the path of the northbound pickup truck in an effort to bring the dangerous drive to a halt. Jorette attempted to evade the patrol vehicle, but the trooper managed to absorb the impact of the collision. The force of the crash caused Jorette’s Ford F-250 to spin, subsequently striking a Ford Expedition before becoming disabled and inoperable. The investigation into the full circumstances surrounding the incident remains active and ongoing.

This incident highlights the dangers posed by impaired and reckless driving. Residents can help prevent future tragedies by reporting suspected impaired drivers to law enforcement immediately. If you witness dangerous driving behavior, do not approach the driver but instead call 911 or the Maryland State Police non-emergency number.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from the Maryland Department of State Police.

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