A dramatic dashcam video shared by the Tennessee Highway Patrol captures the terrifying instant a patrol vehicle was struck from behind during a traffic stop, forcing the cruiser into another car on the roadside.
The agency released both dash camera and body camera footage from the crash, which took place along Interstate 65 in Davidson County.
In the dashcam footage, a vehicle can be seen barreling into the back of the stopped THP cruiser, shoving it forward into the vehicle the trooper had pulled over.
Body camera video from inside the patrol car shows just how violent the impact was. The collision was strong enough to tear the camera from the trooper’s uniform and send it crashing down onto the floorboard.
Dashcam footage shows the scene after a vehicle slammed into a Tennessee Highway Patrol cruiser during a traffic stop on Interstate 65. (Tennessee Highway Patrol)
THP said the footage was made public to reinforce the importance of Tennessee’s Move Over Law and to remind motorists of the danger emergency crews face along busy roadways.
“When you see flashing lights ahead, move over when it is safe to do so,” the agency said in a social media post. “If you cannot move over, slow down and proceed with caution.”
A Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper’s cruiser is shown parked along a roadway. THP released dashcam and body camera video to urge 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.
