Virginia Trooper Seriously Injured In Construction Zone Accident

A trooper with the Virginia State Police was seriously injured when he was struck by a vehicle while working in a highway construction zone. According to WRIC 8 News, the accident occurred on September 12 around 1:25 a.m. near the Gilmerton Bridge in Chesapeake, Virginia.

A spokeswoman for the State Police, Sgt. Michelle Anaya, stated that Sgt. Smith was sitting in his vehicle inside the construction zone with his emergency lights activated to warn motorists of the construction and traffic ahead when a Jeep Grand Cherokee, driven by a 24-year-old woman from Zuni, slammed into the squad car nearly head-on. The injured Trooper was taken to a local hospital to recover, while the driver who was responsible for causing the Chesapeake car accident was found to be intoxicated. She was taken into custody and charged with maiming while driving under the influence.

The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund claimed traffic accidents accounted for 73 of the 160 police deaths nationwide in 2009, making it the leading cause of officer fatalities and injuries. To combat the problem, many states including Virginia, have adopted certain traffic laws that better protect emergency responders from the dangers of the highway, such as “Move Over” laws.

The Richmond personal injury lawyers with Geoff McDonald and Associates ask to protect highway workers from dangers by moving over and slowing down when approaching emergency vehicles or construction zones.