Va. State Police Trooper Struck Outside Cruiser while Helping Disabled Tractor-Trailer
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A Virginia State Police trooper was seriously injured Saturday when a vehicle struck two patrol cars as troopers assisted a disabled tractor-trailer on U.S. 29 near Hurt in Pittsylvania County.
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The impact pushed one patrol vehicle into a trooper, who was airlifted to a hospital, and a second trooper was uninjured.
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The 74-year-old driver was charged with reckless driving as the investigation continues.
A Virginia State Police trooper was seriously injured Saturday afternoon in Pittsylvania County while aiding a disabled tractor-trailer.
It was shortly after 2 p.m. when two troopers who were assigned to Pittsylvania County were helping with the big rig on the southbound side of U.S. 29, Virginia State Police Sgt. Richard C. Garletts reported in a news release.
They were stopped in the 35000 block of the highway near Shula Drive, Garletts confirmed to the Register & Bee, which is just south of Hurt in the northern part of Pittsylvania County.
Both unidentified troopers were outside their vehicles when a 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser, going south on U.S. 29, hit the rear patrol vehicle.
"The rear patrol vehicle then struck one of the troopers as the rear patrol vehicle struck the second patrol vehicle," Garletts said.
The trooper was airlifted from the scene to Roanoke Memorial Hospital with what Garletts called serious injuries. The other trooper wasn't hurt.
"Both patrol vehicles had their emergency lights activated and were partially in the right travel lane to protect the disabled tractor-trailer," Garletts said.
Raul Jesus Salas, 74, of Gretna, was identified as the driver of the Chrysler. Salas is charged with reckless driving.
State police are still investigating.
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