COWETA COUNTY, Ga. --
A stranded motorist suffered serious injuries and a Georgia State Trooper who was trying to help him was also hurt Thursday afternoon when they were hit by a vehicle on I-85 in Coweta County, backing up traffic for miles.
Lt. Paul Cosper of the Georgia State Patrol tells CBS Atlanta the man was trying to change the tire on his van when the trooper stopped to help him in the inside emergency lane of I-85 Southbound near the McCollum Sharpsburg Road exit at mile marker 52.
Lt. Cosper said a truck traveling on I-85 southbound hit a car which was pushed into the van, injuring the man and the trooper.
The driver of van was taken to Atlanta Medical Center via a Life Flight emergency helicopter with serious injuries.
The trooper was taken via ambulance to Atlanta Medical where he's in stable condition. Lt. Cosper said the injured trooper is conscious and awake with lacerations, bruises and bumps. He will be kept overnight for observation.
Authorities have not released the names of the people involved, or would not say if any charges will be filed.
The accident shut down southbound traffic during rush hour Thursday night, backing up traffic for miles and clogging nearby side roads.
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