In a startling incident captured on video, the Tennessee Highway Patrol has shared footage of a patrol car being unexpectedly hit during a routine traffic stop, leading to a collision with a second vehicle.
This gripping footage, comprising dashcam and bodycam recordings, documents the crash that took place on Interstate 65 in Davidson County.
The dashcam video vividly details the moment a vehicle crashes into the rear end of the stationary patrol cruiser, propelling it into the car initially pulled over by the trooper.
The bodycam footage offers an internal perspective of the impact, where the collision’s force dislodges the body camera from the trooper’s attire, sending it to the floor.
The aftermath of this crash, as shown from the dashcam, depicts a Tennessee Highway Patrol cruiser after it was struck during a stop on Interstate 65. (Tennessee Highway Patrol)
THP said it released the video as a reminder for drivers to follow Tennessee’s Move Over Law.
“When you see flashing lights ahead, move over when it is safe to do so,” the agency wrote in a social media post. “If you cannot move over, slow down and proceed with caution.”
A Tennessee Highway Patrol state trooper cruiser is parked along a roadway. The agency released dashcam and body camera footage to remind drivers to move over or slow down for emergency vehicles with flashing lights. (Tennessee Highway Patrol)
The warning comes as law enforcement agencies across the country continue to highlight the dangers officers face during roadside stops, with several similar crashes and near-misses making headlines this year.
Last month, Fox 4 Dallas-Fort Worth reported that a Forney police officer and a Kaufman County sheriff’s deputy narrowly escaped injury when a passing vehicle struck a parked patrol cruiser during a roadside investigation. The officers were missed by only a few feet and authorities used the incident to remind drivers to obey Texas’ “Move Over or Slow Down” law.
In June, the outlet also shared that a Kansas Highway Patrol trooper had to run for cover after an impaired driver slammed into the back of his patrol cruiser during a traffic stop. Authorities said the driver was later found to be under the influence and in possession of drug paraphernalia.
Earlier this year, Fox 13 Tampa Bay reported that a Florida Highway Patrol trooper and a Volusia County sheriff’s deputy jumped into a ditch to avoid being struck after a driver veered onto the shoulder of Interstate 95, sideswiping both patrol vehicles.