In The News
Virginia State Police looking for big rig involved in hit-and-run that injured trooper
BUCHANAN, Va. —Virginia State Police are requesting the assistance of anyone that can provide information regarding a hit and run that occurred May 13 at 6:45 a.m. at mile market 162 on Interstate 81 near here.
Police said a white or light gray classic long-nosed Freightliner tractor pulling a white or light gray van struck a state police vehicle parked on the side of the highway, injuring a police officer.
The trailer tandem axle and rear bumper struck the police vehicle causing extensive damage to the side of the vehicle and possibly the trailer as well.
Maroon colored paint is expected to have transferred onto the trailer as the result of the impact.
The driver of the tractor trailer did not stop or slow down and may have been headed toward New York, Richmond or Chesapeake.
Police said that Master Trooper J.H. Rasnick had stopped a northbound tractor-trailer for speeding. The trooper had the tractor-trailer driver seated in the patrol vehicle with him as he wrote out the speeding summons when the police vehicle was struck by the passing tractor-trailer. The tractor-trailer was headed northbound, ran off the right side of the road and slammed into the left side of the trooper’s car. The tractor-trailer never stopped but kept going northbound on I-81.
The tractor-trailer driver seated in the vehicle with the trooper was not hurt. However, Rasnick did sustain injuries to his shoulder and back, and was taken to Roanoke Memorial Hospital for treatment.
Anyone that has any information regarding this incident or the whereabouts of the tractor-trailer is asked to contact the Virginia State Police at (540) 380.5700.