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Fallen state trooper remembered by community

Posted at 8:40 PM, Oct 06, 2012
and last updated 2012-10-07 20:55:26-04

HANOVER COUNTY, Va. (WTVR) - A horrible accident on Route 30 in Hanover took the life of a State Trooper Friday night.

Trooper Andrew Fox of Tazewell County was directing traffic at the Kings Dominion entrance and exits Friday night as hundreds of people were leaving the theme park while others headed out of the State Fair.  When the driver hit Fox, she said did not attend the State Fair but was just heading home.

“I was praying that he survived,” Renae Hicks, who works at a nearby Exxon, said.  “I saw two women and a man running in this direction, toward us, saying they killed him.  Oh my God.  They killed him.”

Hicks said the crash sounded like a thump when a woman drove through the intersection of Theme Park Way and Route 30 and hit Fox.  “It’s something that would make you say, ‘What’s that?’”

But the 27-year-old later passed away at VCU Medical Center.

“Troopers immediately provided first-aid and CPR after lifting up the SUV off Trooper Fox, along with the assistance of passing motorists,” Sergeant Molnar said on Saturday at a press conference.

Sergeant Molnar, who choked up at times, described his colleague as a dedicated public servant.  “It’s difficult to talk about somebody because we’re all family in this type of community.”

Sergeant Molnar says Trooper Fox was wearing his safety vest and had a hand-held flashlight.  “It’s incumbent upon motorists as they are traveling through a flashing light to slow down,” he said.

While state police do not believe alcohol was to blame, investigators are looking into whether or not speed played a role.

Sadly, Trooper Fox joins the ranks of other fallen officers killed in the line of duty.

“I’m so sorry for their fallen colleague,” said Hicks, “and also, the person that hit him because I know that their life is forever changed as well.”

State police say an investigation is underway and charges are pending against the driver.

Trooper Andrew Fox leaves behind his wife, parents, a sister and a brother-in-law.  Funeral arrangements have not been made yet.

RELATED: State Trooper hit in Hanover County dies from injuries