A trooper with the Mississippi Highway Patrol (MHP) was airlifted on Friday night after being struck by a vehicle while conducting a safety checkpoint in Hancock County.
Per a report from WLOX, Nicholas Dean was on Highway 90 when a teenager struck the MHP trooper with his vehicle. Dean was transported by helicopter to a hospital in Louisiana with severe injuries.
Department of Public Safety Commissioner Sean Tindell told the Gulf Coast-based TV station that the teen was under the influence at the time of the incident. Their identity has not been released at this time.
“Trooper Dean is fortunately expected to make a full recovery,” Tindell said. “Drinking and driving recklessly puts everyone’s life at risk and may result in felony charges such as this.”
The checkpoint in Hancock County was part of the MHP’s Memorial Day travel enforcement period, in which more troopers are on duty for the holiday weekend.
