LUMBERTON — A Fairmont volunteer firefighter was injured this morning when he was struck by a vehicle while directing traffic on N.C. 41, but his injuries do not appear to be serious, according to the state Highway Patrol.
Trooper J. Jacobs, who investigated the accident, said it happened on N.C. 41 near Turkey Branch Road at about 8:30 a.m. Jacobs did not want to release the firefighter’s name, but said his injuries appeared to be “minor.” He was taken to Southeastern Regional Medical Center for treatment.
Jacobs said the firefighter was in full reflective gear, but the driver of the GMC pickup that hit him while trying to make a left turn said he was blinded by the sun. The driver, Mitchell Grier of Fairmont, was charged with failure to reduce speed while striking a pedestrian.
It is the third time a law enforcement officer orfirst responder has been hit while directing traffic in Robeson County since December.
Last week a sheriff’s detective, Matt Lassiter, was struck while directing traffic around bridge work that was being done on Interstate 95 at Exit 33. Lassiter suffered a head injury but is expected to make a full recovery.
He is being treated at McLeod Medical Center in Florence, S.C.
On Dec. 15, a Lumberton police officer, Jason Quick, was struck and killed while working a traffic accident at Exit 22 on Interstate 95 in Lumberton.
Charges were brought in the accident involving Lassiter, but not Quick.
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