Commission highlights recent highway strikes on responders, urges motorists to move over
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Summary
After two separate incidents on U.S. 29 that struck emergency responders — including a state trooper medevaced to a trauma center and a local fire marshal hit while blocking traffic — Pittsylvania County officials urged drivers to slow down and move over for emergency scenes.
Pittsylvania County commissioners and fire-rescue leaders used Thursday's meeting to spotlight two recent highway incidents on U.S. 29 in which emergency personnel were struck by vehicles while working at crash sites.
Commissioners said a Virginia State Police trooper was struck Oct. 11 while assisting at a disabled tractor-trailer and was medevaced to a trauma center. Commissioners said the trooper is "doing well, but with a long, long road ahead of him." Three days later, on Oct. 13, Pittsylvania County fire marshal David Brooks was struck while blocking traffic at a motor-vehicle crash near Gruntna; Brooks was checked and not seriously injured, officials said.
Chief Fowler and several commissioners emphasized that roadside incidents are increasingly dangerous. "It's very dangerous, and it's to the point that it's more dangerous, statistically speaking, to put a truck on the highway blocking traffic than it is to send them in a house fire," Fowler said, calling on the public to heed flashing lights, slow down and move over.
Commissioners said state police plan a campaign to remind drivers of the "move over" law and urged agencies to remind volunteers to take safety precautions. Several commissioners asked staff and association leaders to echo the message through station briefings and county communications channels.
No formal policy changes were voted at the meeting; the discussion was a request for outreach and education to reduce roadway strikes on first responders.