State Trooper’s cruiser hit on I-81

WSLS News Staff
Published: May 13, 2008

Updated 4:30 p.m.

By Lindsey Ward,

Traffic down to one lane rolled by, as investigators tried to piece together the accident.

“We’re treating this as a crime scene, this is a felony hit and run,” said Sergeant John Noel, Virginia State Police.

Trooper Jeff Rasnick pulled over an 18 wheeler for speeding, but as he sat in his car writing the ticket another truck ran off the road hitting his cruiser.

“People need to slow down, they need to move over for us, give us room, because things can happen in a split second just as it did (Tuesday),” Noel said.

No one knows the importance of moving over as much as Trooper Rasnick.  In fact, he served as the spokesman in a public service announcement asking drivers to pay attention to those working on the sides of the road.

“If you see emergency vehicles stopped on the shoulder of the highway you must change lanes away from that emergency vehicle,” said Rasnick in the P.S.A.

However, according to police that didn’t happen Tuesday.  The driver of the truck that hit Rasnick never stopped on the scene.
   
We asked truck drivers if it’s possible to be involved in an accident and not know.

“81 seems pretty smooth.  You would think that they would know,” explained Tim Torbett, a truck driver.

“If I run somebody over, or run something over I’m going to hear it,” truck driver, Richard Edwards said.

If they don’t hear it, someone else may see it.

“WE got C.B. radios also if they have it on, there’s other drivers out there that will say ‘hey’,” Edwards said.

In the mean time another witness is exactly what state police are looking for.

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State Police say the truck could have red or maroon paint on it, from the collision with the trooper’s vehicle.  It also may have broken lights, and a cut or gash along the trailer.

Trooper Rasnick has been released from the hospital.

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All lanes of I-81 now open.

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WSLS has learned Trooper Rasnick is one of the State Police Trooper’s who were featured in a PSA commerical for the move-over law, which requires drivers to merge into another lane or slow down if they cannot merge when a police officer pulls over a driver.

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State Police say Master Trooper Jeff Rasnick pulled over a tractor trailer for speeding on the right side of the road, around 6:45 a.m.

Trooper Rasnick was sitting in the drivers seat of his cruiser, and the truck driver was sitting in the passenger’s seat, getting the ticket.

Investigators tell us another tractor trailer hit the driver’s side door of the trooper’s cruiser, and kept going.  The truck driver who was sitting in the passenger’s side of the trooper’s cruiser is not hurt, and is cooperating with investigators.

Trooper Rasnick is being treated for non-life-threatening injuries at Roanoke Memorial Hospital.

State Police say they are treating the investigation as a felony hit and run case.  They are looking for a dark colored conventional tractor, pulling a light colored box trailer.  Investigators tell us they are also looking at dash camera video from Trooper Rasnick’s cruiser for clues.  The traffic cameras that VDOT have on parts of I-81 did not show the accident.

If you have any information, call State Police at (540) 380-5700 or 1-800-542-5959.

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A State Trooper is recovering after his cruiser got hit by a tractor trailer this morning on Interstate 81.

The accident happened on I-81 northbound, about nine miles north of Troutville and four miles south of Buchanan.

State Police tell us a tractor trailer hit the trooper’s cruiser, and kept going.

As of 10:00 a.m., the right Northbound lane is still closed.

WSLS has a crew on the scene. More information as it becomes available.