A state trooper is lucky to be alive after a tractor trailer slammed into his patrol car.
Adam Malone was on the shoulder of I-24 East near Manchester investigating another accident, when the incident happened. Early in the morning on April 28, Malone was wrapping up paperwork on the initial accident, when a tractor trailer swerved and hit his patrol car.
The car was pushed into a Coffee County Deputy’s car that was also parked on the shoulder of the interstate. The tractor trailer flipped over. Malone, the deputy, and the driver of the tractor trailer were all taken to the hospital.
Malone only had minor injuries and was able to return to work just over a week later. His patrol car was totaled. Malone said he knew the situation could have ended much differently.
“Every time I look at the vehicle, or drive by where the crash occurred, it reminds me how lucky I was to be able to walk out of that vehicle,” said Malone.
Malone said the accident could have been prevented if the driver of the tractor trailer had followed the Move Over Law. The law was passed in 2006, and requires drivers to move over into the adjacent lane of traffic, or slow down when emergency vehicles are parked on the side of the road.
“The main thing about the Move Over Law is to move over and slow down,” said Malone. “You may not have the space to move over, but as long as you slow down you can prevent countless accidents.”
The driver of the tractor trailer was cited for violating the Move Over Law. Drivers who break the law can face a maximum fine of $500, and up to 30 days in jail.
The accident is still under investigation.
