A Louisiana police officer whose father was killed in the line of duty nearly 46 years ago died after he was fatally struck by a tractor-trailer while conducting a traffic stop Saturday.
Dubach Police Officer Russell Croxton had exited his cruiser after pulling over a 2014 Ford Explorer just before 1 p.m., the Louisiana State Police stated in a news release. While Croxton was standing next to the stopped vehicle, a tractor-trailer struck the rear of his cruiser before hitting Croxton and the other vehicle.
Croxton, 51, was rushed to the hospital, where he later died. The tractor-trailer driver and the driver of the stopped vehicle were uninjured.
The crash is under investigation by the Louisiana State Police. Impairment isn't suspected in the incident, but toxicology samples were taken from the tractor-trailer driver.
"This is a reminder to everyone to please obey the 'Move Over' law!" the state police said in the news release. "If you see an emergency vehicle stopped with its emergency lights activated, please reduce your speed and change lanes to give first responders room to operate safely. Following this law will help keep first responders safe while they are assisting others on our highways."
On May 23, 1978, Croxton's dad—Ruston Police Sgt. Raymond Croxton—was killed in a crash during a pursuit, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page.
