PENNSYLVANIA TROOPER STRUCK DURING TRAFFIC STOP GRATEFUL TO BE ALIVE

Every year more officers are killed in traffic-related crashes than in shootings. That is why Pennsylvania State Trooper Andrew Falcon said he's lucky to be alive. Everyone's seen these types of videos before, extreme videos of traffic stops gone bad. And I'm very grateful to not have been killed," Falcon said.

"I've probably watched the video hundreds of times and it causes me to cringe. It's not something I'd wish on anyone." Last Sunday night Falcon pulled over a driver for a traffic violation when another driver in an SUV struck him and almost crushed him.

"As I was talking to the motorist, I had my back turned to traffic, and next thing you know I was against the vehicle," he said. In the video, it looks like the SUV crushed Falcon, but he said he didn't feel any pain. "Because you don't plan on having something like that happening, I didn't know what had happened. I was initially in a state of shock," he said. "I just remember hearing a crunch. Thankfully, it wasn't a bone breaking. It was something on my belt, a flashlight holder, that crunched."

Falcon's injuries were minor. His arm got the worst of it. "It is still bruised. I am just able to move it again," he said. Falcon limped to his vehicle and called for backup. The person he had initially pulled over quickly became a source of help. "The person who I had stopped, she exited her vehicle and came back to render aid for me after calling 911. That's all that I could ask for from anyone. And she was very sympathetic to what had happened," Falcon said. Falcon was close to becoming a statistic.

In the past 10 years, more officers were killed in traffic related accidents than in shootings. In fact, last year those deaths accounted for more than 43 percent of all officer deaths. "I am grateful that I am still here and not to be on the Pennsylvania state police memorial wall for officers killed in the line of duty," he said.

Falcon said he hopes his accident reminds everyone that there is a law that requires drivers to get into the other lane or slow down when they see an officer making a traffic stop. "By becoming a trooper, I've sworn that I would lay down my life for others and am prepared to give my life for this job. However, please, there are things motorists can do to prevent this type of incident from happening," he said. The driver of the SUV is wanted on hit-and-run charges.