Boone talks about incident

HAGERSTOWN — Washington County Circuit Judge W. Kennedy Boone III was charged Thursday with driving under the influence of alcohol following a two-vehicle accident in Hagerstown, Police Capt. Mark Holtzman said.

One of the occupants of the other vehicle, Cherina Rivers of Hagerstown, was taken to Washington County Hospital after she complained of neck and back injuries, Holtzman said. A 3-year-old child who was riding in the back seat was uninjured.

A Washington County Hospital spokeswoman said Rivers was treated and released Thursday evening.

Holtzman said Boone was driving alone in a Isuzu sport utility vehicle in the 300 block of North Prospect Street at 7:54 p.m. when he crossed the center line and sideswiped a four-door Chevrolet sedan driven by Rivers.

Holtzman said he didn’t know how the accident was reported to police.

An officer smelled alcohol on Boone’s breath and performed a field sobriety test, which Boone failed, Holtzman said. Boone was arrested and taken to the Hagerstown Police Department on Burhans Boulevard.

Holtzman said Boone’s blood alcohol content was 0.18 percent, more than twice the legal limit in Maryland of 0.08 percent.

Holtzman said Boone also was charged with failure to drive right of center and driving while impaired by alcohol.

Boone won’t receive a court date until the citations are transferred to Washington County District Court within the next week, Holtzman said. Boone was released to a friend at about 10 p.m.

Holtzman said Boone was cooperative during the incident.