State trooper hurt in chase

By: RICHMOND TIMES DISPATCH | WSLS 10
Published: December 12, 2008

» Comments | Post a Comment

A Virginia State Police trooper was injured late last night when he crashed during a pursuit in Essex County.

Trooper J.E. Hardy was treated at a hospital for a head injury that state police said was not life-threatening.

Sgt. Tom Cunningham said James Brooks, 24, of Caret in Essex County, was charged with felony eluding and driving under the influence. He was being held at the Middle Peninsula Regional Jail pending a court appearance today.

Cunningham said Hardy was on patrol on U.S. 360 in Tappahannock about 11:30 p.m. when he observed Brooks speeding past at 80-90 mph in a black Honda Civic.

Hardy pursued the vehicle west on U.S. 360, then onto state Route 618, where the trooper slid off the road near the state Route 659 intersection and into a drainage ravine lined with large rocks.

Additional state troopers responding to Hardy's crash saw the black Honda and took up the pursuit, arresting Brooks a short time later, Cunningham said.