Tennessee: Deputy hit by vehicle during traffic stop

Phillip Russell was just trying to help a motorist who had run out of gas when he became the victim. The Blount County Sheriff's deputy parked his car on Topside Road and went to lend a hand. That's when another driver left the road, crashing into Russell's cruiser. It threw him into the ditch and rolled over Austin Sturm, the man he was trying to help.

Investigators say Rufus Page was driving the car that hit Sturm's vehicle. All three men were taken to the hospital.

Randy Ailey, with the Blount County Sheriff's Office traffic safety unit, says this incident shows how dangerous it is every time a cop makes a traffic stop.

"You're paying attention to them, trying to see what they need, and the whole time in your mind you're thinking about what's coming up behind you."

He says Russell did everything he was suppose to do. He angled the tires away from the road, which diverts the impact of a crash, and stood away from the car.

"That probably saved some lives," he says.

The crash happened near Liberty Hill Drive. Rebecah Hutchison, who lives near the scene, says cars like to fly down that part of Topside Road.

"I keep my eyes on the rear-view mirror, because a lot of times they don't slow down. There's been times when I've thought about putting my flashers on," she says.

Ailey says it's an example of why drivers need to slow down or move over if they see someone on the side of the road.

"It's not gonna slow you down except for a few seconds, where if you hit somebody, you get hurt, they get hurt, it will affect the rest of your life," Ailey says.

Russell and Sturm were released from the hospital.

UT Medical Center is not releasing Page's condition.

Investigators are still trying to figure out why the car left the road. They're not sure if Page will face charges.