NEWPORT NEWS
Two Virginia State Police troopers were injured in separate incidents Saturday on Interstate 64 in Newport News, officials said.
In the first incident, reported about 7:20 a.m., a sport utility vehicle crashed into a trooper's patrol car on the shoulder of
I- 64 near J. Clyde Morris Boulevard, officials said. Senior Trooper Jesse F. Dennis was filling out a summons while sitting in his marked patrol car, its light bar activated, when an eastbound Chevrolet Equinox drifted onto the shoulder and struck the patrol car on the driver's side, police said.
Dennis was taken to Riverside Regional Medical Center with injuries that were not life-threatening, said Sgt. Michelle Cotten, State Police spokeswoman.
The driver of the Equinox, Darnell Lamont Hinton, 27, of the 1700 block of Chestnut Ave. in Newport News, told police he fell asleep at the wheel, Cotten said. He also was taken to Riverside Regional Medical Center for minor injuries and was charged with reckless driving, she said.
The crash marked the fourth time since April that a state trooper was hurt in a crash while making a traffic stop.
In the second incident Saturday, reported about 11:25 a.m., a state trooper heading east on a motorcycle was struck by another vehicle on I- 64 near Jefferson Avenue, Cotten said. The trooper also was taken to Riverside Regional Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries, she said. The driver of the other vehicle wasn't hurt. That incident remains under investigation.
State troopers were flooding local roads Friday and Saturday as part of Operation Air, Land and Speed, which targeted unsafe drivers on Interstates 64, 264, 464 and 664.
Shawn Day, (757) 222-5131, shawn.day@pilotonline.com
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Stupid People
I have also seen where people get pulled over and they simply stop where ever they are, the other day I saw one stopped on the MMBT bridge where there was NOT sort of safe pull off area, The troopers should also use better judgement and have them move to a safe place or just follow them until they are clear of danger, then throw the lights on.
I personally will not pull over in an area that is a danger to myself or the officer. I put my signal on and then drive until I can pull over in a safe spot.
I would like to hear the officers opinion on this one. Would you rather people wait to pull over in a safe spot? Or stop where ever?
Troops
They should get license pulled for two years. Are you kidding? I drive I-64 everyday, and a big trend that I have notice is that Troops and local police are stsrting to stop and pull everyone over in all the blind curves. I have come close to hitting them myself. They need to take their plate number and tell them to go to the first exit and ticket thrm there so they can be seen. If they run, arrest them for evading. The article doesn't really state where they were. I do hope both troops are okay, but they also have to make sure they are smart about their participation in the accident.
MOVE OVER AND DO NOT DRIVE
MOVE OVER AND DO NOT DRIVE TIRED. It is that simple. Both should be charged with reckless driving and no license for at least 2 years. This is inexcusable. Hope the troopers are ok.
No Respect
People have no respect for law enforcement just trying to do their job. There is a state law that requires people to move over when approaching a stationary emergency vehicle on the side of the road. Drivers need to pay more attention when driving. It is getting really bad.