Florida state trooper injured when alleged drunk driver crashes into vehicle

BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. — A motorist accused of driving while intoxicated hit a Florida Highway Patrol vehicle that was stopped in a construction zone on an interstate highway, authorities said.

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According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the 20-year-old motorist, from Weston, was driving his red Jeep southbound on Interstate 95 at about 2:30 a.m. EST on Wednesday in Broward County, the Sun-Sentinel reported.

The motorist was driving in the outside center lane of the interstate toward a construction area, the newspaper reported.

According to a news release from FHP spokesperson Indiana Miranda, the center, outside center and outside lanes of the highway were cordoned off. The trooper, who has not been identified, was parked in their vehicle between the outside and center outside lanes with emergency lights activated and facing north, the Sun-Sentinel reported.

The Jeep hit the front end of the trooper’s vehicle, according to WPBF-TV.

The trooper sustained an “incapacitating injury” to his right leg, Miranda said in her news release.

The driver of the Jeep was not injured but was taken to an area hospital to be medically cleared due to suspected alcohol intoxication, according to the Sun-Sentinel.

Once he is released he will be booked into the Broward County Jail on charges of driving under the influence, the newspaper reported.