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Trooper Hit on I-81 in Schuylkill County

BUTLER TOWNSHIP — A state trooper was hit by a vehicle and critically injured along Interstate 81 in Schuylkill County. Officials say the trooper was help...

BUTLER TOWNSHIP -- A state trooper was hit by a vehicle and critically injured along Interstate 81 in Schuylkill County.

Officials say the trooper was helping a stopped driver when he was hit on the interstate near Frackville.

Both southbound lanes of I-81 were closed for more than five hours while the crash was investigated.

Traffic was being diverted off the interstate at exit 124, the Saint Clair/Frackville exit as both lanes were closed between there and exit 119.

"It's frustrating because we have a long drive ahead of us, but in the long run we don't want to complain because we know that obviously somebody is hurt or lost their life," said Tara McCormick of New York.

State police say Sergeant Robert Bemis was out of his cruiser helping a driver whose vehicle was disabled on southbound Interstate 81.

Investigators say another driver a woman from Virginia hit Bemis' vehicle which then struck Bemis and the person he was helping.
State police say Bemis was flown to Geisinger Medical Center near Danville in critical condition.

"They sacrifice a lot for the folks, I'm from New York, we have some great troopers and cops that help people on a daily basis so it`s sad to hear that," said Vince Pompo.

The driver who hit Bemis' vehicle and her passengers were taken to a hospital in Pottsville as a precaution.
The other driver who was hit with Bemis' vehicle went to Geisinger with minor injuries.

Tara McCormick and her husband are state troopers in New York state and she says these types of dangers are all too common in their jobs.

"You know it happens a lot, I mean more than people know, people don't move over, they're not paying attention, they're on their phones and they just don't give us enough room, they drive where they're watching so it's just scary, but it definitely hits close to home," said McCormick.

State police say Sergeant Bemis is a 22 year veteran of the state police. He is assigned to the Bureau of Training and Education in Hershey.

No charges have been filed, but state police say the investigating is ongoing.

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