A routine traffic stop ended in tragedy in North Carolina when a state trooper and the driver he stopped were hit by another state trooper coming to offer aid lost control of his vehicle, according to North Carolina State Highway Patrol.
Trooper John S. Horton, the officer who lost his life Monday night after the collision in Rutherford County, was a 15-year veteran of the force.
Horton’s brother, Trooper James N. Horton, was the officer whose vehicle caused the fatal crash.
“Trooper James Horton collided with the stationary patrol vehicle and subsequently struck Trooper John Horton and the detained driver who were standing along the roadside,” read a news release from NCSHP.
John Horton succumbed to his injuries after being transported to a Spartanburg hospital. The driver who had been pulled over was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. His identity has yet to be released.
James Horton only suffered minor injuries in the crash.
“Our hearts are broken with the loss of our friend and our brother, Trooper John Horton. For all involved in this tragic event the coming days will undoubtedly be difficult, but we are committed to stand alongside with them with our thoughts, prayers, and unwavering support,” said State Highway Patrol Commander Col. Freddy L. Johnson, Jr.
Back The Blue NC has set up a GoFundMe to cover John Horton’s funeral costs. He is survived by a wife and six children.
Related
