A former Oneontan who works as a Virginia state trooper is recovering from injuries sustained in an on-duty car crash earlier this week.
Trooper Steven P. Sclafini was in his police car during a traffic stop on Interstate 64 outside of Richmond, Va., in Goochland County when his vehicle was struck by another automobile. Sclafini was taken by helicopter to Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, where he was hospitalized overnight, treated and then released, officials said.
Sclafini said he had a concussion and bruises to his right shoulder and is recovering.
``I blacked out _ it was pretty scary,'' Sclafini said, who will miss work for about a month. This weekend, he said in a telephone interview Wednesday, he plans to visit his parents, Steve and Betty, in New Lisbon.
``I just want everyone to know I'm OK,'' said Sclafini, a 2003 graduate of Oneonta High School, where he lettered in football, basketball and baseball. He graduated in 2006 from the State University College at Oneonta, where he was a baseball player.
The accident happened at about 12:15 a.m. Monday when a 2006 Chevrolet Impala hit Sclafini's car and a 2005 Chrysler Sebring that he had stopped, officials said. Sclafini said emergency lights on his patrol car were flashing.
Two other people hurt at the scene also had non-life threatening injuries and were taken to a hospital by ambulance, a Virginia trooper spokesman said.
Mario Davis, 47, of Highland Springs, Va., was charged with reckless driving and failing to move over under a Virginia law that requires drivers in the lane closest to a emergency response to slow down and to change lanes if they can safely, troopers said.
