North Carolina: Johnston Co. deputy hit at scene that closed I-40 with downed power lines

A Johnston County deputy was hit while helping with traffic after power lines fell across and closed I-40 on Friday afternoon.  The power lines were downed around 5:30 p.m. near mile marker 324. The incident closed both sides of the heavily traveled interstate about 3 miles north of Benson.

Around 7:30 p.m., a suspected drunk driver slammed into Johnston County Deputy Matthew Johnson’s car while Johnson was helping direct traffic after the downed power lines blocked the highway.

Authorities said Johnson had just gotten into his vehicle when the driver hit the passenger side. Johnson, a K9 officer, had his partner, Pinto, in the car at the time of the crash.

Johnson was transported to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Pinto was unharmed, authorities said.