After Virginia State Police Trooper L. Aviles pulled over a driver suspected of driving drunk on I-64 near North King Street in Hampton, Virginia (VA), his cruiser and the stopped vehicle were struck from behind by a 2006 Ford Mustang driven by a Newport News resident. Both Aviles and the DUI suspect were injured in the collision because they were sitting in the cruiser.
The driver of the Mustang was not injured and was eventually charged with reckless driving.
The Virginia Persnal Injury Lawyers’ Perspective
Both the police officer and the DUI suspect may have grounds to pursue personal injury claims against the Mustang driver. If nothing else, the wreck illustrates the risks associated with stopping emergency vehicles on the side of a busy interstate. All drivers must be cognizant of vehicles pulled over on a highway or road and approach them with caution. To drive this message home, Virginia has a move over law that requires a driver to move over one lane when an emergency vehicle or police car is stopped on the side of a highway. Violating the law can result in a $2,500 fine.
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