ALBEMARLE COUNTY, VA – The Albemarle County Police Department responded to a two-vehicle collision on Rockfish Gap Turnpike near Interstate 64 at approximately 4:32 pm on Friday. While no injuries were reported from the initial crash, the incident led to the temporary closure of the westbound left lane.
At around 6:03 pm, a Chrysler minivan collided with the rear of a patrol vehicle that was parked with its emergency lights on, as officers were assisting with the removal of a vehicle from the roadway.
The chain-reaction crash involved the officer’s vehicle, the vehicle being towed, and the wrecker, causing significant damage to all vehicles involved. Fortunately, the officer was not inside the patrol vehicle at the time of the collision and remained unharmed. The driver of the minivan, a 63-year-old male from Culpeper, VA, was also uninjured but has been charged with reckless driving.
Following this incident, the Albemarle County Police Department emphasizes the importance of Virginia’s “Move Over” Law. This law mandates drivers to change lanes when approaching stationary vehicles displaying flashing lights or to proceed with caution if lane changing is unsafe. This reminder comes in light of traffic-related incidents being a leading cause of death for law enforcement officers. The ACPD urges the community to adhere to this law to ensure the safety of everyone on the road.