Driver Crashes into Police Car on Interstate 87 in Raleigh, North Carolina (NC)
RALEIGH, NC- Charlotteobserver.com writes that a crash took place in Charlotte that injured a police officer. At the time of the crash, the officer was responding to earlier crashes on the interstate. While the officer had his lights flashing on his vehicle, a work van collided with the police car.*
Reports state that the work van collided with the back of the patrol vehicle while traveling around 50 miles per hour. The impact caused the police car to spin and strike a guardrail. After striking the police car, the driver in the van attempted to flee the scene on foot. Officers were able to apprehend the driver, identified as a 28-year-old man. The authorities have now charged the driver for felony hit-and-run and for drug-related charges. Both the driver, who appears to have been impaired, and the police officer, were injured in the crash.
When it comes to impaired driving, North Carolina made the list of the worst ten states in the country. South Carolina also fell into the top ten. North Carolina was in seventh place, while South Carolina was just behind in eighth place.
Police are often in danger when they respond to crashes. In North Carolina, the Move Over Law is designed to prevent drivers from striking police officers or police cars when officers are working close to the flow of traffic. Pursuant to the law, drivers who approach a police car, responder, or utility vehicle that is on the side of the road with flashing lights on, are intended to move over a lane to provide space for the protection of those responders. If drivers cannot safely move over, they still must slow down to avoid injuring the officers or others on the side of the road.
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Sources:
https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/state/north-carolina/article245719895.html
https://www.wect.com/2019/11/20/carolinas-fall-into-top-list-worst-states-drunk-driving/
https://www.ncdps.gov/our-organization/law-enforcement/state-highway-patrol/laws/move-over-law#:~:text=North%20Carolina’s%20Move%20Over%20law,stopped%20along%20side%20our%20highways.&text=The%20law%20requires%20motorists%20slow,roadway%20with%20its%20lights%20flashing.