– Suspected drunk driver crashes into Virginia state trooper’s vehicle
– Virginia trooper’s patrol car struck by driver under the influence.
Accident – Death – Obituary News :
FAIRFAX, Va. – Authorities have released dash cam footage capturing the harrowing moment a suspected impaired driver crashed into a Virginia State Police trooper’s patrol car.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday morning on Interstate-495 near exit 52 in Fairfax County. Trooper C. Aziz was conducting a traffic stop on a driver suspected of being under the influence of drugs when the collision occurred.
According to reports, Trooper Aziz had exited her patrol vehicle and was attempting to guide the driver to a safer location on the shoulder when a Jeep Cherokee collided with her patrol car, pushing it into the sedan. The impact caused Aziz to be momentarily knocked off her feet.
Despite the force of the crash, Trooper Aziz miraculously escaped with no broken bones but was taken to Fairfax INOVA Hospital for evaluation and treatment.
The driver of the sedan, identified as 43-year-old Erica D. Bernard from Albright, West Virginia, was still inside the vehicle at the time of the collision and sustained minor injuries. Bernard now faces multiple charges, including driving under the influence of drugs, obstruction, possession of a controlled substance, refusal of a blood/breath test, and improperly stopping a vehicle on a highway.
The driver of the Jeep Cherokee, 35-year-old Joanna F. Hatch from Arlington, Virginia, was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol. Both Bernard and Hatch were subsequently transported to Fairfax County Adult Detention Center.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by impaired driving and the risks faced by law enforcement officers in the line of duty. Authorities continue to emphasize the importance of responsible driving and the consequences of driving under the influence.
For more information on this story, visit Fox 5 DC.
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Suspected DUI driver Virginia trooper patrol car
Suspected DUI driver slams Virginia trooper patrol.
