TENNESSEE POLICE SAFETY OFFICER STRUCK BY CAR

A Dyersburg Police Department Public Safety traffic officer was hit by a motorist Sunday while on duty. Mary Jo Hurst, 34, was working at the intersection of St. John Avenue and Community Development Park Boulevard at about 4 p.m. when a driver ignored traffic cones and drove into her. The accident caused Hurst to be pushed by the car some 20 feet onto the pavement.

The driver, whose name was not available as of press time, was issued a citation by Dyersburg police. Witnesses said the driver said he was focused on an ambulance traveling toward the location when he drove through the intersection and ran into Hurst.

Hurst was transported to Dyersburg Regional Medical Center for contusions and was treated and released. The intersection was blocked from 4 a.m. Sunday through Monday morning for Dyersbug Electric System workers to replace the wiring for the traffic signals.

The work is expected to take place at most of the city's intersections with traffic signals in the next several months to repair the wires from decay.