State trooper recovers after highway accident

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (WSVN) -- A pickup truck barreled through an emergency lane on I-95 where a trooper was pulled over. She's now recovering as we learn more about the driver police said caused the crash.

A steady stream of troopers filed into the Broward General Medical Center Saturday to check on one of their own.

Trooper Felecia Andrews, a three year veteran of the force is recovering from serious injuries.

The 33-year-old trooper was pulled out was pulled over in the median of I-95 near Cypress Creek Road Friday night, investigating a fender bender when the FHP said a pick up truck driven by 33-year-old Derek Nelson of Miami Beach slammed into the cruiser. "Witnesses reported that a pick up truck was traveling at high speed in the median," said Florida Highway Patrol Sergeant Mark Wysocky. "The pick up truck then tried to veer and struck the trooper's car."

The trooper's cruiser then slammed into the vehicles involved in the fender bender. Trooper Andrews was flown to the hospital. Nelson was taken by ambulance as traffic on the northbound lanes came to a halt. "Nobody knew what was happening," said Joan Star. "We saw all of these police cars coming from everywhere and that was the scariest part."

Trooper Andrew's was in her cruiser which may have saved her life. The FHP said they are still trying to figure out why Nelson was driving in the median to begin with.

Andrew's suffered several broken bones including broken ribs, a broken arm and a broken leg. Charges against Nelson are still pending.

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