One dead after Stafford traffic pursuit

STAFFORD - One man is dead after fleeing police and hitting a trooper with his vehicle Sunday morning on Interstate 95 in Stafford County.

According to the Virginia State Police, at 8:39 a.m., a Stafford County Sheriff's Office deputy tried to stop the driver of a 1996 Ford Taurus because of expired license plates.

The driver, then at the 139-mile marker in Stafford, refused to stop, and a northbound pursuit ensued. State police assisted the sheriff's office in the pursuit when the Taurus was stopped near the 141-mile marker at about 8:45 a.m.

But as a state trooper exited his vehicle, the Taurus moved ahead and struck the trooper, according to the state police, which reported that the trooper then fired toward the vehicle.

The driver was hit, and died at the scene. He was the car's only occupant.

The trooper was taken to Mary Washington Hospital in Fredericksburg. He was treated and released. His name, and the suspect's name, are not being released at this time, pending an investigation, according to state police.

The trooper has been placed on administrative leave with pay, during the investigation. The Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation's Culpeper Field Office is investigating the incident.

The Virginia Department of Transportation assisted the state police and the sheriff's office at the scene. Because of partial lane closures on I-95, northbound traffic was directed to use U.S. 1.

Officials were able to override the traffic signals to ease the flow of northbound traffic on U.S. 1.

All northbound lanes of I-95 reopened at about 3:30 p.m.
Tracy Bell is editor of the Stafford County Sun.