WASHINGTON — A Virginia Department of Transportation help truck driver who was assisting a stranded motorist was struck by a pickup truck, leaving the VDOT worker and two others seriously injured.
According to Virginia State Police, the incident happened in Fairfax County, Virginia on Friday afternoon. A VDOT Safety Services Patrol employee was helping a motorist on westbound Interstate 66, just west of the U.S. 29 exit in Centreville.
Police said the VDOT truck had its amber lights flashing when the pickup crashed into it. As a result, the VDOT truck was pushed into the stranded SUV.
The VDOT worker, the SUV driver and the driver of the pickup truck were all injured, police said.
Police say fatigue was a factor in the crash.
The pickup driver, Seth Ferrell of Beverly, W.V., was charged with reckless driving and failing to yield to emergency vehicles.
“Most motorists probably do not realize that the safety service patrol drivers are outside of their vehicles, standing on the side of the interstate every day helping to block traffic during accidents and breakdowns and helping to change tires and provide gas,” said VDOT spokeswoman Jenni McCord. “The safety service patrol drivers are risking their lives every day when they stop to help motorists in need.”
Virginia’s ‘Move Over’ law requires drivers to move over a lane safely to give all emergency personnel vehicles stopped on the side of the road more room. The law applies to emergency response vehicles, highway maintenance vehicles and tow trucks that are equipped with amber flashing lights, Virginia State Police said.
“We ask that motorists treat the safety service patrol just like they would a state trooper or a police officer, to move over one lane and to give them room to do their job safely,” McCord said.
