Maryland State Trooper First Class Travis Nelson of Centreville Barrack struck and killed a pedestrian in Stevensville, Maryland Friday night at around 9PM. TFC Nelson was responding to assist Queen Anne’s County Sheriffs on a burglary call when his cruiser struck 29-year-old Iriana J. Curtis of Dover, Delaware, according to a statement from the Maryland State Police.
“The investigation is continuing by members of the Maryland State Police CRASH Team, who are conducting a detailed reconstruction of the crash. The completed investigation will be presented to the Queen Anne’s County State’s Attorney’s Office for review,” the statement said.
TFC Nelson was traveling the Shopping Center Drive off-ramp of Rt. 50 West when his cruiser struck Curtis, who was wearing a black t-shirt and bluejeans. Jerome Wheeler, 20, of Magnolla, Delaware was sitting with Curtis when she moved off the jersey wall into the path of Neslon’s cruiser. Curtis was pronounced dead at the scene.
The statement also said that TFC Neslon was not using his lights or siren when he struck Curtis.
Traveling with TFC Neslon was a ride-along, Jacolby Bruno, 24. The statement did not indicate the purpose of the ride-along, but a Linkedin search shows a Jacolby Bruno holding a law enforcement position with the US Department of Justice while working on a graduate degree in Homeland Security at University of Maryland University College; Bruno has an anticipated graduation date of 2012.
Cheryl Hoopes says
Unfortunately, articles like this are everyday occurrences, and we hardly blink when we read them. But I gasped aloud when I saw the first line and read the name of the trooper whose car struck the woman. Because I know this man, this trooper whose life will never be the same after an accident like this, after seeing his name in an article like this.
I knew him as a high school kid on the track team and as one who was always known by all who got to know him: “They don’t come any better than Travis Nelson.” Polite, fun, responsible and sometimes the “old woman” on the team who would cajole his teammates to “pick up that shirt,” while he was busy cleaning up their space, he was just an all-around good kid. The teen Travis was the team player who always had an encouraging word for a teammate who’d had a rough race. He was the listener, the do-er, the hard worker who always did more than asked, and the boy who always stopped to say thank you and to send a Christmas card to a couple of grown-ups who cheered for him from the sidelines during his races. And since his high school days I’ve seen him still running–but these runs are on errands that he does for his grandma, simply because she needs him to do them and because that’s what he likes to do.
Back in high school, Travis got letters from colleges offering him this and that, but he threw them all out, choosing to wait instead to grow older, old enough to go to the Police Academy to be able to live his dream of being a State Trooper. It was what he’d always wanted to do so that he could continue to help others, and to try to make a good difference in a hard world.
But bad things happen in a hard world to people who only want to make it all better. And this article records that this is what happened a couple of nights ago. I don’t know the details of this case, but I know that there’s a lot more to the story than can be reported objectively in a news article. I know that Travis will face scrutiny and misunderstanding and accusations and that he’ll probably second-guess himself the rest of his life. But Travis, and others like him are heroes. Of course, the second tragedy is that this truth may be eclipsed by this one event in Travis’s life. And I just couldn’t let this happen without writing my version of the in-between-the-lines, rest-of-the-story stuff that I know.
Lainey says
My family knows Travis too. I couldnt agree more. He is a good man. Thanks for wriing Cheryl Hoopes. Such a terrible tragedy.
Allan Schauber says
I personally know Travis from the organizations that he belongs too. He is a well rounded young man who unfortunately has had a terrible event happen to him. He has many friends and family for support but I am sure he will not forget that day the rest of his life. Those who are second guessing his actions should wait for the investigation to be completed to get the entire story. I am sure the reporters only reported what would sound good. He is a very good person as some above have noted, and is always eager to help people. We feel sadness for the family of the young lady who also was involved in this tragedy and may she rest in peace.
The Bridge Troll says
Let’s not forget that if this had happened to you or I, we’d be sitting behind bars right now, wondering if we’d be charged with vehicular manslaughter or vehicular homicide. It is unfortunate that the pedestrian was wearing black, and that she jumped off, but as anyone who has ever had a moving violation knows, it’s up to the driver to control their vehicle. If he was driving too fast with his lights off, and killed someone, he’s going to have to face up to his decision, regardless of what a nice young man he happened to be.
Lainey says
That is not true Bridge Troll. Not true at all. Now if you or I were drunk while driving, yes. If we were under the influence of drugs, yes. Just being a driver involved in an accident does not land one in jail. And dont worry, knowing Travis Nelson he is and will always bear those scars. This is a very tragic situation all around, for the victim and for the officer involved.
Bocephus says
@Bridge Troll
Before you jump on here and act like you know what you are talking about think about what you are saying. The young lady “moved off” a jersey wall into the path of Tpr. Nelson’s cruiser. Do you know how close he was when she “moved off” of that wall? No? So how can you say its up to the driver to control his/her vehicle? As for the lights and siren its normally a tactic to stay somewhat “covert” on that type of call when they are in the general area of where the crime is happening. If he wasnt in the general area of the call, well, you can complain all you want. Until then stay under the bridge until you get your facts straight and then resurface. Keep your head up Travis, hope you return soon!!!!!!!