Early yesterday morning at 12:36am, the MSHP responded to a two vehicle accident in New Madrid County. The accident occurred on I-55 northbound at the 49 mile marker when a New Madrid County Deputy was parked behind a disabled vehicle on the shoulder in his 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe patrol vehicle, with his emergency lights on. While sitting in the patrol car, the deputy was struck in the rear by a northbound 2015 Nissan Sentra, driven by a 21 year old male from Poplar Bluff.
The New Madrid County Deputy received minor injuries and was taken by ambulance to St. Francis Medical Center while the driver of the Sentra sustained serious injuries and was air lifted to Region One in Memphis.
The 21 year old driver of the Sentra was also arrested by the MSHP for charges of driving while intoxicated (physical injury) and failure to yield to a stationary emergency vehicle but was release for medical.