Virginia State Police trooper seriously injured in Augusta County crash on I-81
Correction: The trooper involved in the crash did not have his lights and siren activated as previously reported by Virginia State police.
AUGUSTA COUNTY — Virginia State Police said a trooper was seriously injured Saturday night in a crash on Interstate 81 in Augusta County.
The incident began when state police received a call at 8:15 p.m. on Saturday from a caller saying his vehicle had been shot at while traveling south on I-81 in Shenandoah County, a press release said. The caller, who was not injured, provided a vehicle description and license plate of the suspect vehicle.
A state trooper located the suspect vehicle as it headed south on I-81 in Rockingham County. When the suspect vehicle crossed into Augusta County, a second trooper pulled out from an emergency crossover to assist the first trooper.
As the trooper pulled out from the crossover — at the 234 mile marker — his patrol car collided with a 2020 Kia Sorento that was headed southbound, according to the press release. The trooper did not activate his lights and siren prior to the crash, police said. The trooper was taken to Augusta Health in Fishersville for treatment of serious injuries that were not considered life-threatening.
The driver and passenger in the Kia were also taken to Augusta Health for treatment of injuries that were not life-threatening, the release said.
The crash remains under investigation.
The first trooper was able to stop the suspect vehicle in Augusta County. A search of the vehicle resulted in no weapon being located. The driver was released.
Brad Zinn is the cops, courts and breaking news reporter at The News Leader. Have a news tip? Or something that needs investigating? You can email reporter Brad Zinn (he/him) at bzinn@newsleader.com. You can also follow him on Twitter.
This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Trooper injured in Interstate 81 crash in Augusta County
