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Trooper Injured, Vehicle Struck During Pursuit From Stafford To Prince William Counties: MSP

One Virginia State Police trooper was injured and a second was struck during a pursuit that played out early Wednesday morning on I-95 in Stafford and Prince William counties.

Virginia State Police

Virginia State Police

Photo Credit: Virginia State Police

Troopers attempted to stop Texas resident Austin Leonard, 43, shortly before 12:30 a.m. on Oct. 23 in the northbound lanes of the interstate, though the Fort Worth native had other ideas.

Leonard proceeded to speed away, leading to a police pursuit from Stafford into Prince William County, when he struck a trooper's vehicle, causing minor damage.

This Outlander then made its way to a truck rest area, made a U-turn and began driving south in the right shoulder of the northbound lanes of I-95, then made a second U-turn and continued on.

When the pursuit approached the Dale Boulevard exit, police say that Leonard made a sudden left turn to get off the interstate, causing one of the troopers to strike an attenuator at the exit in an attempt to keep up with the Outlander, disabling the state police vehicle and causing minor injuries.

Leonard was eventually stopped and apprehended just off of Dale Boulevard.

The trooper was evaluated by paramedics and released at the scene. The second trooper struck was uninjured.

Leonard was charged with driving under the Influence, eluding, and reckless driving.

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