A Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper was struck by a motorist as the driver tried to flee a traffic stop, according to the the Highway Patrol.
At about 7:30 a.m. today (Wednesday), a trooper pulled over a car near the Waffle House parking lot on Elm Street. During the traffic stop, the driver “failed to comply” and took off. In the process, the trooper was struck by the car, according to Sgt. Mike Mitchell, the public information officer for Troop I of the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
Shortly after fleeing the scene, the driver was found by Lebanon Police and taken into custody. The Highway Patrol has not released any other identifying information about the driver. At the time of this report, the reason for the traffic stop is also unknown.
The trooper sustained “non-life threatening injuries.” He was taken by ambulance to a hospital to be treated, according to Mitchell.
The trooper’s identity has not been released.
Members of the Lebanon Police Department, Laclede County Sheriff’s Office and Highway Patrol are at the scene of the accident. Mitchell said the Patrol is still “trying to piece everything together.”
The Laclede County Record will report more information as it becomes available.
