A firefighter has been released from the hospital after being struck by a car Thursday morning in Robeson County.
Stephanie Chavis with Robeson County Emergency Management tells News13 that volunteer firefighter James Thompson, with the Fairmont Rural Fire Department, was struck by a car while directing traffic following an unrelated crash.
Thompson was struck at Highway 41 and Turkey Branch Road in Fairmont. He had responded to a crash in the same area around 7:30 or 8 a.m., according to Chavis. Thompson is believed to have been struck by the driver’s side mirror around 9:30 a.m.
Chavis says it’s her understanding that Thompson was wearing his reflective gear and was following normal procedures at the time of the incident.
Thompson was released from a hospital Thursday afternoon.
Robeson County Sheriff Burnis Wilkins posted a message about the incident on Facebook, as part of a message about Robeson County Detective Matthew Lassiter, who was also recently struck by a vehicle.
Wilkin’s post asked the community to extend their prayers to Thompson.
North Carolina Highway Patrol Trooper J. Matt Jackson told News13 Thursday afternoon that the driver who hit Thompson is Mitchell Grier. Grier has been charged with failure to reduce speed.