Viewing set for later today for fallen Maryland State Trooper Hunter

TFC Hunter had previously been assigned to the Westminster MSP Barrack and had served in the United States Marine Corps

UPDATE for http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/2011/05/viewing-set-for-later-today-for-fallen.html:

A scholarship fund to benefit his children has been established in his memory.

Hunter leaves behind six children, ages 4-19.  A scholarship fund to benefit his children has been established in his memory. 

Donations should be made payable to: THE HUNTER CHILDREN’S SCHOLARSHIP FUND

Donations can be made at any M&T Bank in Maryland.  Or, they may be mailed to: M&T Bank, 207 Bowie Road, Laurel, MD 20707.  All donations will be used to provide for the education of TFC Hunter’s six children.

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By Kevin Dayhoff

Posted 5/26/11

The family of fallen Maryland State Trooper First Class Shaft S. Hunter will receive friends and colleagues who wish to pay their respects today from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Vaughn C. Greene Funeral Home, 8728 Liberty Road in Randallstown.

Hunter, 39, an 11-year veteran of the State Police died, while on duty, as the result of a traffic accident at 2:40 a.m., last Saturday.  He was working a night patrol shift when the accident occurred in the southbound lane of I-95 at the Laurel rest area, just south of Route 32, in Howard County.  He was pronounced dead at the scene.

“TFC Hunter was an outstanding trooper who was known for his dedication to duty,” Maryland State Police Superintendent Colonel Terrence B. Sheridan said. 

“He died while working to keep our highways safe.  He will be greatly missed by his family and his fellow troopers at the Waterloo Barrack and throughout the Maryland State Police.  He is the 43rd state trooper to make the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of the people of Maryland.  His death comes at the end of National Police Week, when we honor the more than 19,000 police officers nationwide who have given their lives in the line of duty.  TFC Hunter has now joined the ranks of these American heroes.”

He had been assigned to the Waterloo Barrack since October 2010; however, he had also previously served at the Glen Burnie and Westminster Barrack.

According to a Maryland State Police report, a preliminary investigation indicates Hunter struck a tractor-trailer that was parked on the shoulder of the interstate, just before the entrance ramp to the rest area.  “A witness told investigators he was passed by a motorcycle that was traveling at a high rate of speed just before being passed by a marked State Police car.  Moments later, the witness said the patrol car struck the rear of the tractor-trailer. 

“Based on witness information, TFC Hunter was possibly in pursuit of this speeding motorcycle.  He had not radioed in to the barrack about this before the crash occurred, but that is not unusual when a trooper is in the initial moments of an attempted traffic stop. 

“The patrol car struck the rear of the tractor-trailer and then traveled down the side of the trailer, coming to rest near the front of the trailer.  The tractor-trailer driver was not injured in the crash. 

“The tractor-trailer driver is identified as Albert Sandino, 46, of Covina, California.  He was driving a 2009 International truck tractor pulling a box trailer loaded with household bleach.  The truck was headed from Aberdeen, Maryland to Virginia.  The driver told investigators he had pulled to the side of the interstate briefly to check for directions to his destination.”

TFC Hunter was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut.  He held a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice from St. Augustine College in Raleigh, North Carolina. 

After college, he served in the United States Marine Corps from 1994 to 2000 and was honorably discharged at the rank of captain.  He entered the State Police Academy on January 3rd, 2000 where he was elected president of the 114th Trooper Candidate Class. 

Hunter leaves behind six children, ages 4-19. 

Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley has ordered the flag to be flown at half-staff until sunset of the day of Hunter’s funeral tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. at the New Antioch Baptist Church, 5609 Old Court Road in Randallstown. 

Burial will be at Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens immediately following the funeral service.

Viewing set for later today for fallen Maryland State Trooper Hunter
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