Horrifying dash cam footage shows an Ohio State trooper slammed by a vehicle and tossed into the air following a traffic stop last Friday in Geauga County.
"The trooper had stopped a vehicle that had run a red light," Lieutenant Robert G. Sellers of the Ohio State Troopers said. "The other vehicle crashed into the rear of the trooper's car and struck the trooper."
The video shows the trooper's hat fly in the air after he is struck. The woman in the vehicle he pulled over then crawls out of her window and finds the trooper to check on his health.
Sellers confirmed to ABC News that the trooper had no major injuries and that he was released from the hospital that same day.
"The whole event is still under investigation," Sellers added.
Sellers also emphasized that people should drive cautiously to prevent these sorts of accidents. "Law enforcement and first responders risk their lives every day in the name of public safety. Crashes like this can be prevented. Drivers need to give room for officials working alongside of the roadway. It is also important to never drive distracted or impaired."
In a statement released with the dash cam footage, Sellers also urged drivers in Ohio to follow the state's Move Over law, which requires all drivers to move one lane over when passing by any vehicle with flashing or rotating lights parked on the roadside.
“By moving over, motorists are helping to protect the lives of everyone who works on our roadways or uses them to travel,” Sellers said in a statement. “It’s not just the law. It’s the right thing to do.”
