Madison County, NC-- An N.C. Highway Patrol trooper struck Tuesday while conducting a traffic stop in Madison County remained in critical condition this morning at Mission Hospital.
Trooper Matt Mitchell, 27, initiated the stop at 4:55 p.m. on U.S. 19 near Crooked Creek Road, northeast of Mars Hill. Another motorist hit Mitchell's car and the trooper.
Wednesday morning, a hospital spokeswoman said Mitchell was still in critical condition.
Dudley Wilson, 58, of Asheville, was one of several people who pulled off the road to check on Mitchell at the accident scene. He said Mitchell was about 70 feet away from the vehicle he pulled over.
"When we got there -- I was the second person to him -- we could hardly find a pulse," Wilson said. "The first state trooper that came upon the scene said 'Matt, you're going to be OK.' He heard his name and tried to get up."
No charges have been filed against the woman whose car struck Mitchell, but the investigation is continuing, Trooper Gene Williamson said this morning.
Wilson said the woman who hit the trooper was "very, very upset."
Mitchell has been with the Highway Patrol for about three and a half years, Williamson said.
This is the second time in days a Trooper has been hit by a car.
Saturday, Trooper Bobby DeMuth was hit and killed by a car during a high speed in Nash County. DeMuth was attempting to deploy stop sticks. His funeral is today.