Tennessee State Trooper seriously injured in semi-truck collision

Knoxville, TN- A Tennessee state trooper is in critical condition after his patrol car was hit by a semi-truck on I-40 early Tuesday morning.

Tennessee State Trooper Sgt. Lowell Russell was conducting a routine traffic stop Tuesday morning around 3 a.m. when the accident occurred. Russell had finished up with a driver when he returned to his patrol car. A semi-truck traveling in the westbound lanes lost control of his vehicle and swerved. The truck driver then over-corrected and slammed into the Russell’s patrol car, sending it across three lanes of the highway into the concrete median where it burst into flames.

Emergency crews arrived shortly after the car caught on fire and were able to pull Russell out. He was not verbally responsive at that time. The trooper was taken to University of Tennessee hospital where he is in critical condition.

A truck accident attorney can make certain that seriously injured victims receive the compensation they need for their medical care.

Highway Patrol Sgt. Randall Martin told KnoxNews that the truck driver drove on the shoulder for 200 ft. then hit Russell’s car and continued traveling an additional 1200 ft. after the crash.

Police are unsure why the truck driver lost control, but they believe he may have been sleepy. He is facing charges of aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, violation of the move over law and failure to exercise due care.

When a truck accident lawyer can prove a driver was negligent at the time of an accident they will be able to build an effective case and obtain the funds a victim will need. If an injury victims has been permanently or temporarily disable a truck accident attorney will fight to get their clients a settlement to cover their everyday living expenses and other associated costs.