NORTH CAROLINA OFFICER STRUCK BY CAR

A Lumberton police officer was struck by a car this morning while assisting another officer in a traffic investigation. Patrolman William Reed, 29, of Fayetteville, was airlifted to UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill this afternoon. Reed had several breaks in both of his legs. The accident happened about 8:30 a.m. near exit 10, about 1.4 miles outside of Lumberton.

Reed had responded to a call about a motorcycle accident in the northbound lane of Interstate 95. He had moved the motorcycle and debris from the highway to the median, said Trooper Robert Hunt. Reed was struck while in the median by a 2006 Toyota four-door sedan driven by Joseph Serafini. Serafini, 75, of Estero, Fla., swerved to miss a vehicle that had slowed down, Hunt said.

Serafini was charged with failure to reduce speed and exceeding a safe speed.