North Carolina: Trooper "lucky to be alive" after being struck while inside cruiser

A state trooper says he's "lucky to be alive" after the patrol car he was in was hit from behind on a busy highway. Trooper R.C. Riley is out of the hospital recovering from injuries in last night's crash outside of La Grange on U.S. 70.

The Highway Patrol says Trooper Riley was investigating a collision on U.S. 70 around 7:45 p.m. Sunday. The trooper had positioned his patrol car with all emergency equipment activated in one westbound lane. A tow truck was in the process of moving the vehicle that had wrecked earlier.

Troopers say Dylan Smith, 22, of La Grange, will be charged with violating the "move over" law, which is a misdemeanor. Sgt. G.S. Hemby says Smith, who was not injured in the crash, told them he didn't see the trooper's cruiser. Trooper Riley was transported to Wayne Memorial Hospital has since been released.

The trooper believes Smith was going over 60 miles per hour when his cruiser was struck. He tells WITN that he had just gotten into the patrol car and didn't have his seat belt on.