By Virginia State Police

Virginia State Police is continuing their investigation this morning after a trooper was injured in a motor vehicle crash involving two vehicles in Amelia County.  Senior Trooper T. C. Smith was attempting to locate the wrong-way driver on Route 360 westbound approximately 1/10 of a mile west of South Amelia Avenue, when his marked canine patrol vehicle was struck yesterday evening September 1, 2010, at 10:04 p.m.

911 calls were received by the Amelia and Nottoway County Sheriff’s Office regarding a wrong-way driver.  Smith, who was assisting with locating the wrong-way driver, was on Route 360 westbound when his vehicle was side-swiped on the driver’s side by a 1997 Nissan Altima traveling eastbound in the westbound lanes.  Smith, who was wearing his safety belt, was not seriously injured in the crash and was transported to Bon Secours Saint Francis Medical Center.  Smith has since been released and his canine unit was not injured in the crash. 

The wrong-way driver, Larry D. Brown, 51, suffered serious life-threatening injuries in the crash and was flown by Virginia State Police Med-flight to Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center.  It remains under investigation whether Brown was wearing his safety belt.  Brown was charged with driving under the influence and remains at the hospital. 

The Virginia State Police Accident Reconstruction Team assisted with the crash investigation.  Route 360 westbound was closed for approximately five hours to allow the investigation team to conduct their investigation.  The Virginia State Police was assisted by the Amelia and Nottoway County Sheriff’s Office.