Head-on crash injures deputy
Posted on Monday, August 20, 2012 at 10:00 am
A Caroline County deputy was injured when a car crossed into his lane and ran head-on into the officer’s patrol car, Virginia State Police reported.
The accident occurred about 2 a.m. Sunday on U.S. 1 near CCC Road, which is about a half-mile north of the entrance to the Lake Caroline community.
Deputy Mark O’Connor was driving his patrol car south on U.S. 1 when a 1999 Hyundai Elantra station wagon crossed over from the northbound lanes and collided with the officer’s vehicle, according to State Police spokesman Sgt. Thomas Molnar.
O’Connor, 41, was transported to Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center in Richmond. He suffered a broken hip and arm, according to Caroline Sheriff Tony Lippa.
The driver of the Hyundai, Ho I Shin, 38, of Chesterfield, was flown to Mary Washington Hospital with serious injuries, but they were not considered life threatening.
Shin was charged with driving under the influence, failure to stay right of center, and failure to have a driver’s license.
Both men were wearing seatbelts, according to Molnar.
The highway was closed for about 90 minutes as State Police investigated the accident. They were assisted by the Caroline County Sheriff’s Office.
O’Connor was recognized earlier this year for rescuing a woman from her burning house on Moncure Drive near Carmel Church.
