Jan. 27--A Virginia State Police trooper was in Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital on Saturday after being hit by a car driven by an unidentified man Saturday morning in Pulaski.
According to a state police news release, Senior Trooper John A. Jones was struck intentionally about 6:45 a.m.
The release said Jones stopped to check on a pedestrian walking on Virginia 100 at Cleburne Wayside near the entrance to the New River Valley Airport in Pulaski. When Jones offered help to the man, the release said, the man became combative and ran to a blue car, which left the area.
Within seconds of the blue car driving away, Jones saw a red car nearby that also started to leave the scene, the release said.
Jones motioned for the red car to stop.
The red car then turned toward Jones and, according to the release, intentionally hit him at "a high rate of speed."
It said Jones tried to jump out of the way, but the car hit him and knocked him to the ground before driving away.
Jones, 48 and a 21-year veteran of the Virginia State Police, was flown to Roanoke Memorial for treatment of injuries described as serious but not life-threatening.
The release said Jones will remain there overnight.
An investigation is under way. Anyone with information is asked to call Virginia State Police at (276) 228-3131 or toll-free in Virginia at 1-800-542-8716.
Copyright 2013 - The Roanoke Times, Va.
