HANOVER - A hit-and-run crash caused a livestock trailer to overturn on southbound Interstate 295 this morning, sending a goat, a pig and a few ducks scurrying across the highway, Maryland State Police said.

At about 8:45 a.m., a vehicle struck a Geo Tracker that was towing a homemade trailer just north of Route 100. The impact knocked the Geo on its side, and the livestock spilled out of the trailer, police said.

The animals ran across northbound I-295, police said. The pig and ducks were quickly caught, but the goat gave the owner and police more trouble.

State police called Anne Arundel Animal Control officers to help capture the goat. At 9:30 a.m., state police had cornered the goat in a wooded area off the roadway. The goat was caught at 10:20 a.m.

Police said the vehicle that struck the Geo did not stop. The driver of the Geo was not injured in the crash, and no lanes were closed.

Local man charged with CASA threat

Pasadena - A 34-year-old Pasadena man was arrested yesterday on charges he threatened to blow up CASA of Maryland, an immigrant-advocacy group based in Silver Spring.

Wesley J. Queen II, of 6 Margaret Ave., Apt. B, turned himself in to Montgomery County police. He was charged with two counts of making false statements about a "destructive device" and two counts of telephone misuse.

According to The Washington Post, police said Mr. Queen called the CASA offices and a CASA employee's cell phone on May 18. Mario Quiroz, the employee, told police the caller said, "You shouldn't be surprised if your places start blowing up in pieces."

Police said they were able to identify the caller via Mr. Quiroz's caller ID.

Man injured in fall remains critical

St. Margarets - The man who fell and struck his head on a paved street Saturday remained in critical condition last night at Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore, hospital officials said.

County police said Michael Lee Greene, 42, of Hampton Road in Annapolis, was injured at about 6:50 p.m. Police said he was horsing around in the 1600 block of Clayhill Road in St. Margarets when he fell and struck the back of his head on the asphalt.

Mr. Greene was bleeding from a cut on the back of his head and blood was coming from his right ear when police and paramedics arrived. He was conscious but was not talking, police said.

He was taken by ambulance to the shock trauma center, said Battalion Chief Matthew Tobia, a county Fire Department spokesman. Alcohol appears to be a factor in the fall, police said.

Schools to hold parent conference

Glen Burnie - Parents can learn how to help their children do well in school at a conference Oct. 28 sponsored by the county school system.

The parent-involvement conference, the first of two this year, will be on "Unlocking the Treasure of Student Achievement," according to a release. Parents can choose which workshops to attend.

Topics include attention-deficit disorder, stress and the college-application process, health, reading and gang awareness.

The conference will be from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Abundant Life Church, located at 7305 East Furnace Branch Road in Glen Burnie. Breakfast and lunch will be provided. The conference is free and open to the public, but space is limited.

Parents can register with the school system's Office of School and Family Partnerships at 410-222-5414 or dgross@aacps.org.

- From staff reports