State Trooper Injured During Traffic Stop In King George County

KING GEORGE COUNTY, VA — A Virginia State Police car making a traffic stop was struck on Route 3 in King George County Sunday, sending a trooper to the hospital for treatment of minor injuries, according to the state police. Two occupants in the car that the state trooper had stopped also were transported to a nearby hospital for minor injuries.

A Ford Fusion driven by Eldred H. Daiger III, 33, of Montross was traveling east on Route 3 just before noon Sunday when it veered into the right lane, striking the state trooper’s car, which had its emergency lights on in the rear, according to the state police. The impact from the crash pushed the state police car into the rear of the BMW sedan that had been stopped.

The state police said Daiger was driving his car "erratically" when he struck the state trooper's car. The state trooper was inside the police car when it was hit and the occupants of the BMW were inside their car. The incident occurred in the right-hand portion of a turn lane on Route 3 near Dahlgren Road.

Daiger, who also was transported to the hospital with minor injuries, has been charged with reckless driving and possession of marijuana, the state police said Monday.

The King George Sheriff's Office assisted the state police at the scene of the crash.