County Exec's Car Hit by Suspected Drunk Driver

ROCKVILLE, Md. (WUSA) - Police say the accident that injured Montgomery county executive Isiah 'Ike' Leggett Sunday night involved an impaired driver who, police say, ran a red light and struck Mr Leggett's vehicle.

Montgomery county police say it happened at about 10:20 p.m. Sunday night. Mr. Leggett and his wife were in a county vehicle driven by a county security officer. Leggett and his wife were in the back seat of the 2008 Chevy Suburban, as its driver was
waiting to turn from Columbia Pike/Route 29 to westbound Sandy Spring Road/Route 198.

Police say when the light turned green, Leggett's driver proceeded through the intersection, and their vehicle was struck by a pick-up truck driven by Kendall Sterling Smith, age 47, of the 12500 block of Barbara Road in Wheaton.

Police say the 1996 white Ford pick-up truck hit the front passenger door of Leggett's vehicle. Fortunately, no one was seated in the front passenger seat, but both Mr. and Mrs. Leggett and the security officer were taken to Laurel Regional Hospital by Howard county fire/rescue, where they were treated and released.

Leggett's spokesman Patrick Lacefield said Monday the county executive was resting at home, quite sore from bumps and bruises suffered in the crash, and hoping to return to work as soon as possible in the next few days. Lacefield says Mrs. Leggett also experienced some back pain, and the security officer driving received a knee injury.

Lacefield says the Leggetts were returning from a Jewish community event at the Washington Hilton and were almost home when the accident occurred.

Police say Mr. Smith agreed to perform standardized field sobriety tests, but he failed the first two and didn't want to try a third one due to a previously existing condition with his legs.

Smith was arrested for DUI, and transported to Silver Spring station charged with two DUI charges (driving under the influence, driving while impaired) and also charged with 'entering the intersection on a solid red signal' (running a red light). He was issued a citation and will appear in court later on the charges.