State Trooper Struck by Drunk Driver

A Ritchie County State Trooper was struck this weekend by a suspected drunk driver while speaking to the driver of another car he had pulled over.

The officer is recovering in the Intensive Care Unit at a Charleston Area Hospital and is expected to make a full recovery.

Police say that while it is rare for troopers to be hit in this fashion, drivers have a tendency to move towards the flashing lights on the police vehicle when another car is pulled over.

“We encourage people not to look at a cruiser that has someone pulled over along the road somewhere,” said Senior Trooper Baron Claypool from the Bridgeport Detachment. “Also, if there’s an accident scene, try to keep your eyes on the road and focus on your mission at hand instead of trying to focus on the mission that we’re trying to accomplish. As your eyes wander, so does your steering wheel, and it creates a hazard for troopers that are along the roadways and it also creates a traffic hazard for other motorists on the roads.”

Police are looking for the driver who struck the officer, but are having little success.

If you or someone you love has been injured by a drunk driver, contact the Clarksburg drunk driving accident attorneys of the Law Offices of David Frame at 800-352-9460 today.