Trooper hurt after car slams into his cruiser on I-77

STATESVILLE, N.C. — A driver crashed into a North Carolina Highway Patrol cruiser that was stopped on Interstate 77 Tuesday night.

The Highway Patrol told Channel 9 that the trooper pulled a woman over near mile marker 49 in Statesville around 9:30 p.m. and was sitting in his car when another driver crashed into him, knocking the trooper's cruiser into the woman's car.

The trooper was hurt and is recovering at home.

The driver who investigators said hit him -- Isaac Vallejo Ruiz -- faces several charges, including DWI and driving without a license.

WSOC