Virginia State Police Trooper Continues to Recover From Drunk Driving Accident

Posted on Oct 01, 2008

Virginia State Police Trooper Kris Chapman continues to recover from injuries sustained from a drunk driving accident. His vehicle was struck on the side of Interstate 81 at Seven Mile Ford last winter. The accident made him the first of eight troopers hit in 2008, as they worked on the sides of the highways.

The accident occurred when Chapman had stopped another driver for a traffic violation and was parked on the right shoulder of I-81’s southbound lanes. Barry Dean Marshall, the driver who hit Chapman, pleaded guilty to driving under the influence and public intoxication.

Chapman is speaking up to encourage Virginia drivers. He recently recorded the audio for one of two public service announcements at the Marion radio station WMEV. The purpose of the campaign is to get drivers to follow a Virginia law that requires them to move into the lane away from stopped law enforcement officers and emergency responders. The Virginia legislation is known as the Move Over law.

In the public service announcement, Chapman tells his story as a voice over during a video that shows pictures of him. One of the photos shows his cruiser after it was smashed in the February crash. During the announcement Chapman says, “I was hit by a drunk driver in February of this year. This accident could have been prevented if this driver was not drinking and driving and obeying Virginia’s Move Over law.” He goes on to talk about the troopers that have been hit this year and reminds drivers of what they should do if they see emergency vehicles stopped on the shoulder of the highway.

The video version of the public service announcement can be viewed at a VSP exhibit at the Virginia State Fair that is scheduled to end October 5. The video can also be viewed on the Virginia State Police’s website.

State troopers are more concerned about being hit by other vehicles than they are of bullets.