Virginia State Police trooper hit during I-85 traffic checkpoint in Dinwiddie on Black Friday, police investigate

DINWIDDIE COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- Virginia State Police is asking for the public's help after a trooper was hit during a traffic checkpoint on Interstate 85 in Dinwiddie County on Black Friday.

At about 3:15 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 28, a Virginia State Police trooper was conducting a checking detail -- a type of traffic checkpoint -- on the ramp from Squirrel Level Road to I-85 North.

The trooper reportedly told drivers to have their information ready for the checkpoint, according to police.

A driver in a white Ford SUV with expired temporary tags told the trooper that he was not going to go through the checkpoint. The trooper said he had to continue through, then placed his hand on the SUV's door handle.

The SUV then reversed, backed into a guardrail, returned to Squirrel Level Road and continued toward Halifax Road in the City of Petersburg.

"Because of the positioning of the troopers on the ramp, there was no pursuit," police said in a Nov. 29 press release.

Police said the trooper was checked out but not injured.

The incident remains under investigation.

8News reached out to the Virginia State Police to learn about the purpose of the checkpoint.

Anyone with more details about the incident is asked to contact Virginia State Police Division 1 Dispatch at 804-750-8758 or email questions@vsp.virginia.gov.