On December 13, 2023, at 1:30 pm a Morristown Police Department (MPD) officer who was in his vehicle positioned northbound in the roadway on 25E with all emergency lighting activated to shield citizens and other officers at a traffic crash site, was struck by a truck that failed to move over and hit the rear end of the patrol vehicle.

Fortunately, the officer suffered only minor injuries; however, there could have been a very tragic outcome. Tennessee Code Annotated 55-8-132 has been nicknamed the “Move Over Law.” This law was enacted to keep emergency personnel safe when performing their duties on roadways. The law has been updated to not only include emergency services, but also recovery, highway maintenance, solid waste and utility service vehicles.

Police Chief Roger Overholt stated, “distracted driving is a danger to everyone on our roadways. It is reasonable to believe that had this officer not been protecting the scene with his vehicle, the citizens and officers at the crash site could have been seriously injured or killed.”

Chief Overholt continued, “It’s not just cell phones that can take someone’s attention away from safe driving. Things such as eating, adjusting the radio or climate controls, and animals in the vehicle can cause the driver to take their attention away from the road. We are asking everyone to be aware of their driving behaviors to increase safety in our community.”

The crash investigation is being conducted by the Tennessee Highway Patrol.