A shocking dashcam video released by the Tennessee Highway Patrol shows the moment a patrol cruiser was blindsided during a traffic stop, sending it crashing into another vehicle.
The Tennessee Highway Patrol released dash camera and body camera video of the crash, which happened on Interstate 65 in Davidson County.
Dash camera video shows a vehicle slamming into the rear of the parked patrol cruiser, pushing it into the vehicle the trooper had pulled over.
Body camera video captures the impact from inside the cruiser. The force of the collision ripped the body camera from the trooper’s uniform and sent it tumbling onto the floorboard.
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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.”
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.
