OSHP trooper struck on Ohio Turnpike

SWANTON, Ohio — A trooper from the Swanton Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol was struck by a commercial vehicle on the Ohio Turnpike in Williams County at 8:36 a.m. this morning.

Trooper Tommy Alexander, 41, was stopped along the side of the turnpike conducting a routine traffic stop, when his cruiser was struck from behind by a commercial vehicle.

Alexander was outside of his cruiser during the crash and was taken by helicopter to University of Toledo Medical Center with nonlife-threatening injuries. The driver of the stopped vehicle, Carol Thomas, 44, of Toledo, was taken to Montpelier Hospital, to be evaluated.

Both the driver of the vehicle, Patricia Chapman, 53, of Murchison, Texas, and the passenger, Jiri Siuda, 34, of Frisco, Texas, were not injured.

The accident is under investigation.