State Trooper survives being hit by tractor trailer on I-81

Trooper P.C. Gardner was pulled over on the right shoulder of I-81, and had just released a traffic violator, when he heard a vehicle hit the rumble strips, looked up, saw an oncoming UPS tractor trailer

By: WSLS News Staff | WSLS
Published: June 16, 2008

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A Virginia State Police Trooper survives his cruiser being hit by a tractor trailer this morning.

Investigators tell us Trooper P.C. Gardner was pulled over on the right shoulder of Interstate 81 in Rockbridge County around 6:47 a.m., and had just released a traffic violator, when he heard a vehicle hit the rumble strips, looked up, saw an oncoming UPS tractor trailer, and jumped into the passenger seat of his cruiser before the truck hit it.

The UPS truck lost control, hit a guardrail, and went down an embankment.

Luckily, neither the trooper nor the driver is seriously hurt. EMS crews took Trooper Gardner to Stonewall Jackson Hospital in Lexington with cuts, bruises, and scrapes.

State Police charged the driver of the UPS truck, 57 year old Mikel Elliott from Blacksburg with reckless driving.

State Police are still investigating the crash.