Man charged after crashing into Henrico police car on I-64

HENRICO, VA (WWBT) - Another first responder vehicle was hit this week in Central Virginia - this time a Henrico County police car was involved.

An officer was on the shoulder of eastbound I-64 near Route 360 on Wednesday when another vehicle slammed into it.

Virginia State Police said the officer was stopped out in the left lane with his emergency equipment activated while assisting a previous crash.

A GMC Astro van heading eastbound rear-ended the police car when the officer was inside.

The officer was taken to the hospital for minor injuries. The driver of the van, John Omalley, 29, of Grimstead, was also transported for minor injuries.

Omalley is charged with reckless driving.

Lt. Lauren Hummel posted a video to the Henrico County Police Department’s social media pages on Thursday urging drivers to move over when they see lights from police, ambulances and fire trucks.

“Please move over,” she said. “It’s the law.”

Hummel said if you’re unable to move over, slow down when you see the lights.

“This could have been avoided,” she said of Wednesday’s crash.

In recent months, first responders in Central Virginia have launched a “move over” campaign following the death of a Hanover fire lieutenant in October in a crash, and several other vehicles hit this fall.

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