State Trooper back on the job after being struck on I-80
An Ohio State Highway patrolman is back on the job, just one day after being struck alongside Interstate 80.
An Ohio State Highway patrolman is back on the job, just one day after being struck alongside Interstate 80.
Kenneth Robbins says the accident was by far the scariest moment of his career.
In addition to a few cuts and bruises, he says he is stiff. The crash sent him and two other men to the hospital on Monday.
"It is something that I fear most is being struck by another vehicle in my job," said patrolman Kenneth Robbins.
On Monday, Robbins had stopped to investigate an accident just east of the Ohio Turnpike ramp.
As he was waiting for tow truck driver Anthony Jeswald to finish loading a vehicle, a man driving a commercial truck lost control, striking the cruiser and tow truck.
"At that time, the patrol car did hit the back of me, and in the meantime, without even knowing it, I did push Tony away from the crash scene, and I took the hit, and we just both went down on the ground," said Robbins.
This is the second accident Robbins has been involved in throughout his 25 year career.
Ohio law requires motorists to move over or slow down when approaching emergency vehicles that have their lights activated. However, drivers don't always abide by that law.
"The first time I was getting out of my patrol car on the interstate and without nothing, a semi truck took the door off as I was stepping out of my vehicle," said Robbins.
According to Robbins, the tow truck driver, Anthony Jeswald, wasn't seriously injured.
The driver of the commercial truck, Glen Blank, was treated for minor injuries and cited.