A trooper who was significantly injured in a hit-and-run crash on the facet of the Mass Pike is urging drivers to “move over” after they see flashing lights.
Mass State Police Trooper Sean Clark is sharing his story as he continues to recuperate from the June crash when he was struck by a driver who didn’t transfer over throughout a routine site visitors cease.
Clark was conducting a site visitors cease at round 2:20 a.m. when a 32-year-old girl allegedly struck him along with her automobile on the facet of the Mass Pike westbound in Chicopee. She was allegedly driving drunk.
“Before June 10th, I never imagined I’d be telling the story of how I almost lost my life simply because a driver didn’t move over,” Clark stated in a State Police video.
“In the hospital during those early, painful days of recovery, all I could think about was how close I came to never seeing my wife and children again,” the trooper stated.
Clark was rushed with critical accidents to Baystate Medical Middle. Lower than every week later, he was launched from the hospital and transferred to a rehab facility.
Naisha Rodriguez, 32, of Springfield, was arrested in reference to the hit-and-run crash.
She was arraigned and charged with working underneath the affect inflicting critical bodily harm, deceptive a police investigation, and leaving the scene of a motorized vehicle crash inflicting private harm. Bail was set at $500,000.
The crash was “100% preventable,” the trooper burdened.
“The Move Over Law exists to protect troopers like me, and everyone out there working on our roads,” Clark stated. “We’re on the market doing our jobs, holding you protected.
“But every uniform you pass out there belongs to someone with a family, with people waiting for them to come home,” he added. “So the next time you see flashing lights, move over. It’s not just the law. It’s a chance to save a life.”
Not too long ago on Beacon Hill, there was a invoice listening to to strengthen the Transfer Over Legislation — with the purpose of accelerating security on the roads.
Beneath the present regulation, a driver violating the Transfer Over Legislation can face a $100 tremendous.
The proposed invoice would set up a $250 tremendous for a primary offense, a $500 tremendous for a second offense, and a $1,000 tremendous for a 3rd or subsequent offense. Additionally, any violation that leads to harm to a different individual might be punished by a tremendous of $2,500 or as much as one 12 months in jail.
State Police deliberate to extend enforcement of the Transfer Over Legislation through the vacation weekend.
“So, whether you see a State Trooper, Police Officer, Fire Truck, Ambulance, Work Crew, or Tow Truck with flashing lights, we ask you to do your part. Slow down and move over,” State Police posted. “Behind every set of flashing lights, there is a family waiting for that person’s safe return. Move Over. It’s the law and it could save a life.”
