ALBEMARLE COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — An Albemarle County police officer’s patrol car was hit by a reckless driver while that officer was responding to a separate crash, causing further damage to all cars involved.
According to the Albemarle County Police Department, its officers responded to the scene of a two-vehicle crash off Interstate 64 on Rockfish Gap Turnpike at about 4:30 p.m. on Friday, March 1.
Officers had the westbound left lane closed to allow for the necessary units to respond to the crash. Their patrol cars had their emergency lights turned on, standing by while a wrecker removed an involved car from the roadway.
Just after 6 p.m., a Chrysler minivan reportedly hit the back end of one of those patrol cars. This caused a chain reaction of crashes, as the patrol car hit the vehicle being towed and the towed vehicle hit the wrecker. According to the department, this caused “significant damage” to all involved vehicles.
No one reported any injuries as a result of the crash.
“While no one was injured in this incident, ACPD would like to take this opportunity to remind the community of Virginia’s ‘Move Over’ Law,” said the department in a press release. “When approaching a stationary vehicle displaying flashing red, blue, or amber lights or that has activated its hazard warning lights, Virginia law requires that the driver of any motor vehicle move over by making a lane change not adjacent to the stationary vehicle. If changing lanes is unreasonable or unsafe, proceed with caution and maintain a safe speed.”
The 63-year-old man driving the Chrysler, who has not been identified by police, was charged with reckless driving.
