Courtesy of Virginia State Police

Trooper Jeff Rasnick was sitting in his unmarked state police vehicle when a tractor-trailer demolished the driver's side.

Virginia State Police are looking for a tractor-trailer that hit a trooper's car by the side of Interstate 81 on Tuesday morning, sending the trooper to the hospital.

Police said the accident occurred about 6:45 a.m. on I-81 northbound near mile marker 162 in Botetourt County.

State police spokesman Sgt. Rob Carpentieri said Trooper Jeff Rasnick was sitting in an unmarked cruiser parked on the right-hand shoulder after stopping a tractor-trailer for speeding. Another tractor-trailer ran off the right side of the road and slammed into the driver's side of the trooper's car.

The truck did not stop.

According to state police, Rasnick's front and rear emergency lights were activated.

Rasnick suffered injuries to his shoulder and back and was taken to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, police said. Hospital spokesman Eric Earnhart said he was released later in the day. The driver of the truck that Rasnick had stopped also was sitting in the cruiser at the time of the crash but was not hurt.

Carpentieri said police are analyzing footage from Rasnick's dashboard camera as they search for the driver of the truck, a dark-colored Freightliner Classic tractor with an extended front. He said the truck has either a white or light gray box trailer and likely has significant damage to the right rear of the trailer. The trailer also may have maroon paint on the side where it hit Rasnick's cruiser, and it may have broken lights and a cut or gash along the trailer.

Carpentieri said police are looking at truck stops and rest areas along I-81 to find the truck.

State law requires drivers to change lanes or slow down for emergency vehicles stopped on the side of the road. Rasnick himself was featured in a state police public service announcement about the law last fall.

Anyone with information about the incident or the truck should call state police at (800) 542-5959.