Trooper struck by car on Interstate 55

DON FRAZIER * dfrazier@semissourian.com

Nurses and an air evac crew wheeled Sgt. Bradley S. Lively away from the helipad at St. Francis Medical Center on Monday. Lively, a Missouri state trooper, was struck by a car on Interstate 55.By Linda Redeffer ~ Southeast Missourian

A Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper was seriously injured Monday morning on Interstate 55 while conducting a routine traffic stop a mile north of Cape Girardeau.

Sgt. Bradley S. Lively, 37, a zone supervisor in Cape Girardeau, Bollinger and Scott counties, was airlifted to St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.

According to public information officer Sgt. Larry Plunkett, Lively had stopped a black sport utility vehicle on the northbound lane near the 102-mile marker at just after 10 a.m. Lively was standing by his patrol car behind that vehicle when a second northbound vehicle, a red 2004 Oldsmobile Alero, driven by Talisa Jackson, 23, of St. Louis, struck him, Plunkett said.

"The officer may have been trying to signal this vehicle to stop as well," he said.

According to the patrol report, Lively was struck after attempting to move out of the Alero's path when he realized the driver was unable to stop.

Lively's wife, Tracey, said at 6 p.m. Monday that her husband had just come out of surgery for two broken legs and was being moved to the recovery room. She said he is still in serious condition but suffered no internal injuries.

According to Plunkett, a fairly new state law requires a motorist approaching any emergency vehicle with flashing lights at the side of the road to reduce speed and move to the left-hand lane as quickly as possible. The law has been on the books for the past two or three years, Plunkett said.

Plunkett was unable to say if anyone had been arrested in connection with the accident.

"The accident is under investigation at this time," he said.

The patrol's Major Case Team, assisted by the Drug and Crime Control Division, is investigating, he said. Results of the investigation will be given to the prosecuting attorney.

Lively is a Cape Girardeau native and 14-year veteran of the patrol.

lredeffer@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 160