NC detective run over on I-95 while directing traffic, suffers ‘severe’ head injuries

A North Carolina sheriff’s office detective suffered “severe head trauma” on Interstate 95 early Friday when he was run over while redirecting traffic around a construction project, reports the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office.

The detective was identified as Stephen Matthew Lassiter, 31 of Lumberton, said a Facebook post by Robeson County Sheriff Burnis Wilkins.

“Detective Lassiter suffered severe head trauma and other injuries and was air lifted to McLeod Medical Center in Florence South Carolina,” said Wilkins’ post.

Lassiter was assigned to “traffic diversion” around bridge construction on the interstate when the incident happened at 12:05 a.m. Friday, officials said. The work is going on at Exit 33, near the St. Paul’s community, officials said.

Investigators identified the driver as Lawrence Adair II, of Hope Mills, a community in nearby Cumberland County. He was driving a 2017 Ford pickup at the time, officials said.

Adair has been charged by the N.C. Highway Patrol with failing to reduce his speed, but an investigation is ongoing, the sheriff’s office said.

“Sheriff Burnis Wilkins is asking everyone to please pray for the sheriff’s detective and his family as they await final results from testing being conducted at the hospital,“ said a Facebook post from the sheriff’s office.

This story was originally published March 29, 2019 at 7:25 AM with the headline "NC detective run over on I-95 while directing traffic, suffers ‘severe’ head injuries."